OD6 Metals (ASX:OD6) has identified low impurity from fluorspar-bearing samples sourced from the Horseshoe and Mammoth deposits within the Quinn Fluorspar Project in Nevada.
Multi-element results returned impurity levels to sit below typical global industry thresholds, which OD6 Metals says underpins “strong potential for premium metspar product without prior processing at Horseshoe”.
OD6 Metals says both the Horseshoe and Mammoth deposits demonstrate an “exceptional pre-processing impurity suite”.
Key takeaways from the impurity suite include low lead and other base metals, sulphur below global industry thresholds, non-detectable levels of arsenic and cadmium, phosphate within AcidSpar tolerances, uranium and thorium below detection limits, and low-potential deleterious elements.
Horseshoe has returned average calcium fluoride grades of 70%, which OD6 says demonstrates ‘strong potential’ for direct shipping ore suitable for metspar products.
Horseshoe and Mammoth have the potential to be upgraded to AcidSpar using ore sorting and simple flotation, due to low deleterious elements or pollutants.
New metallurgical test work samples have been received at a metallurgical laboratory and are due for commencement of analyses.
Managing Director Brett Hazelden says the company’s belief that “Quinn has the potential to become one of the highest grade fluorspar projects in North America” has been reinforced by these results.
“Not only are we seeing exceptional fluorspar grades, particularly at Horseshoe, but we are also seeing remarkably low levels of impurities that commonly attract penalties or create processing challenges at many fluorspar operations globally,” Hazelden says.
“The ability to potentially produce a direct shipping ore metspar product from Horseshoe, while also maintaining a pathway to higher-value AcidSpar products through conventional flotation techniques, provides significant flexibility for future development.
“Importantly, the low level or absence of problematic elements such as uranium, thorium, sulphur, arsenic, and elevated base metals supports our view that Quinn could become a strategically important domestic source of fluorspar for the United States at a time when Western governments are seeking secure critical mineral supply chains for the growing industry.”
As reported by Mining.com.au earlier this month, OD6 Metals has exercised its option agreement to acquire the Quinn Fluorspar Project in Nevada, US, after completing technical, legal, and strategic due diligence.
OD6 Metals is an Australian exploration and development company focused on critical mineral projects, including rare earths, copper, and fluorspar.
Write to Maddison Elliott at Mining.com.au
Images: OD6 Metals
