SAGA Metals (TSX-V:SAGA) has begun an eight-week metallurgical optimisation program to produce its first high-purity product samples from the Radar Titanium-Vanadium-Iron Project in Labrador, Canada.
The stage two work with Temas Resources (CSE:TMAS) follows initial test work that achieved recoveries of up to 90.8% titanium, 97.4% vanadium, and 91.5% iron using Temas’ proprietary Regenerative Chloride Leach (RCL) technology.
SAGA says the next phase will refine leaching and downstream metal separation, establish repeatable operating conditions, and generate engineering data for a decision on mini-pilot testing.
CEO Mike Stier says the focus is shifting from initial recoveries to process design and product samples.
“Stage two is where we convert those recoveries into an optimised flowsheet and the first high-purity products,” Stier says.
“With Radar located less than 20km from a deep-water port, the opportunity to pursue downstream products on site is a compelling part of the story.”
Testing will compare two run-of-mine massive oxide samples, assessing extraction rates, reagent consumption, leaching times, solution quality, and grinding requirements.
Variables include hydrochloric acid and magnesium chloride concentrations, temperature, and particle size.
Pilot pathway takes shape
Temas will also develop the solvent extraction circuit used to separate iron, titanium, and vanadium from the leach solution. The work aims to generate enough solution to produce initial high-purity titanium dioxide, vanadium, and iron product samples.
Successful results could support progression to a mini-pilot program, followed by testing of 500–1,000kg of material. SAGA says it is targeting metallurgical and engineering data to support a preliminary economic assessment in 2027.
The processing work runs alongside efforts to establish Radar’s maiden mineral resource estimate.
As previously reported by Mining.com.au, hole R-0075 returned a 485.4m downhole oxide interval at the Trapper zone. The company’s resource drilling program, completed in August, totalled 22,432m.
SAGA Metals is a Canadian critical minerals explorer advancing its projects in Labrador and Québec.
Write to France Pinzon at Mining.com.au
Main image: SAGA Metals
