Locksley Resources (ASX:LKY) has achieved a final floatation concentrate grade of 68.1% antimony from multiple metallurgical test work programs of surface samples collected at the Desert Antimony Mine prospect within the Mojave Project in California.
The company describes the ‘high-grade’ results as evidence that the Mojave Project holds the “potential to deliver feedstock superior to current market supply streams and prospects”.
Locksley engaged metallurgical consultants, subsidiary of SGS Australia, Independent Metallurgical Operations, as well as Base Metallurgical Laboratories to conduct the tests.
Concentrate returned at 95% of technical maximum stibnite grade of 71.68%, revealing minimal impurities and exceeding the marketable sales requirement of a minimum 55% grade.
The company conducted two preliminary tests, focusing on first pass rougher, regrind, and cleaner floatation aspects, to prove a minimal flowsheet development is necessary to maximise grade and recovery results.
The floatation cleaning tests informed total recoveries to exceed 80%, through the recycling of tails.
Locksley will now streamline mineralogical testwork to determine the stibnite deportment for further ore characteristic understanding and sample collection from underground work at Desert Antimony to expand the program.
The company intends to produce a larger volume of antimony concentrate ahead of pilot testing, of which a sample will also be sent to Rice University to commence testwork through the DeepSolv methodology.
As reported by Mining.com.au, Locksley recently expanded the DeepSolv program to test a range of antimony feedstocks in different processing stages from multiple sources to strengthen the US’ domestic supply of antimony.
Locksley Resources is a critical mineral explorer focused on advancing the Mojave Project in California for its reach into the rare earth and antimony market.
Write to Maddison Elliott at Mining.com.au
Images: Locksley Resources
