Siren Gold (ASX:SNG) has reported gold flotation recoveries ranging from 95 to 98% from three metallurgical samples collected from diamond core at the Auld Creek Project in New Zealand.
Modest antimony was also recovered, ranging between 64% to 90%, using copper sulphate as an activator.
CEO Victor Rajasooriar says that as the company progresses its Reefton gold and antimony projects into the future, these results are considered “excellent.”
“The commodity pricing outlooks for both metals are excellent and the introduction of antimony as a critical mineral brings additional potential benefits to New Zealand,” Rajasooriar says.
“We are now in the final stages of completing our Auld Creek mineral resource calculations following the drilling program earlier this year and expect to have that completed in the coming weeks.
“Concurrently, additional metallurgical testwork will be carried out to optimise the recoveries of antimony at Auld Creek.”
Additional optimisation work using lead nitrate as an activator is anticipated to begin in the fourth quarter of this year.
The diamond core samples were collected within the Fraternal Shoot and aimed to test for gold and antimony recoveries into a flotation concentrate. The samples were delivered to ALS Perth in May 2024 for a range of metallurgical testing.
Antimony prices have been on a run for several months this year, as demand is taking over supply, alongside being further boosted after China announced its antimony exports ban.
As previously reported, Iltani Resources’ (ASX:ILT) Managing Director Donald Garner said yesterday (5 September) antimony prices are increasing to US$25,100 per tonne.
As of 2023, China accounted for 48% of the global antimony production.
Russia is ranked the second behind China, accounting for 19% of the world’s antimony production, as of 2019.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Siren Gold
