Maronan Metals (ASX:MMA) has plans to undertake further metallurgical optimisation research and another drilling program at its Maronan Silver-Lead and Copper-Gold Project in north-west Queensland.
According to Maronan, its namesake project is one of Australia’s largest undeveloped silver resources just 90km north of the Cannington Silver-Lead-Zinc Mine.
Further metallurgical optimisation and drilling is being planned following the return of silver-in-lead and copper concentrates up to 1,485 grams per tonne (g/t) silver at 51% lead, and 25% to 27% copper.
Managing Director Richard Carlton says today’s (17 April 2024) results highlight the value potential of the project’s ores which, combined with historic studies, delivers key data for future optimisation.
“It is expected that the processing and mining advantages defined by these positive preliminary metallurgical tests will translate into very industry-competitive capital and operating costs at Maronan,” Carlton says.
Maronan says assays from the lead sulphide mineral concentrate underscores the co-product silver content of the lead ores, which is an ore type that is easy to grind and can be classified as ‘medium-soft to medium’, adding to its processing advantage.
Silver is recovered with the lead sulphide mineralisation which floats well under simple and readily available reagent regimes. As such, Maronan notes recoveries of 95% for lead and 84% for silver can be achieved at a medium-fine grind size.
Meanwhile, preliminary flotation testwork on mixed copper-gold sulphide ore types has returned recoveries of 85% to 90% copper, while assays delivered gold grades up to 14g/t with variable silver contents between 31g/t to 515g/t.
Maronan says optimisation of the flotation reagent regimes, plus gravity concentration, may improve these recoveries.
Importantly, results from the copper-gold sulphides show a saleable product can be concentrated, making the nearer-to-surface copper resources available for possible early development.
Maronan Metals is a mineral explorer focused on realising the growth potential of its project in the Cloncurry region of northwest Queensland.
Write to Adam Drought at Mining.com.au
Images: Maronan Metals
