Southern Hemisphere Mining (ASX:SUH) reports specialist manganese processing company, Mn Energy, has completed the first stage of leach amenability testwork on ore provided from its Los Pumas Manganese EV Battery Project in Chile.
The leach amenability testwork determined that the Los Pumas manganese ore was suitable for high-purity manganese sulphate monohydrate (HPMSM) for the battery metals market.
Additionally, the Los Pumas ore achieved about 99% extraction of manganese under ‘standard’ leach conditions, producing a leach solution containing 80 grams per litre (g/L) of manganese.
Commenting on the completion of the testwork, Lead Director on the Los Pumas Manganese Project Natalie Dawson says: “It is a great opportunity to combine Mn Energy’s patented technology with the company’s wholly owned Los Pumas Project to extract more manganese more effectively.
“Given the projects’ location and surrounding infrastructure, the Los Pumas Manganese Project should start attracting interest from those within the electric vehicle (EV) industry”
Given the projects’ location and surrounding infrastructure, the Los Pumas Manganese Project should start attracting interest from those within the electric vehicle (EV) industry.”
Southern Hemisphere reports the Mn Energy HPMSM production process is a ‘significant’ improvement on current HPMSM operations, as it has 6 fewer processes in the stream, as well as other efficiencies.
The Mn Energy approach incorporates ‘significant’ changes, including the removal of the roasting step, reduction in the number of pregnant leach solution (PLS) purification processes, and removal of the electrowinning step.
The potential benefits of this approach that Mn Energy applies, reduces energy and reagent requirements.
Southern Hemisphere reports the next stage of work on the project is processing with a focus on marketing to downstream partners, offtake, and joint ventures in the battery metals industry.
Additionally, the Chilean government has recently announced its intention to promote the development of related mining and downstream industries.
Southern Hemisphere Mining is an experienced minerals explorer in Chile, South America. The company’s projects include the Llahuin Porphyry Copper-Gold Project, the Colina 2 Gold/Copper prospect near Llahiun, and the Los Pumas Manganese Project, all of which were discovered by the company.
Los Pumas is located 175km inland from the Port of Arica in northern Chile. It currently has a Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) of 23.7 million tonnes @ 7.81% Mn.
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