Zenith Minerals (ASX: ZNC) reports positive initial sighter level metallurgical test work at its Split Rock Project in Western Australia, as part of its Zenith Lithium joint venture (JV) with EV Metals Group.
The metallurgical test work, consisting of both sighter flotation and bench scale calcination-leaching, has generated ‘extremely positive’ results that confirm the amenability of eucryptite mineralisation, as well as confirming the potential of eucryptite as a viable lithium target.
Zenith reports that the outcomes of the flotation test returned was positive, with a lithia recovery of 76% to a rougher concentrate grading 4.04% Li2O and XRD of the samples indicating that subsequent cleaning and re-cleaning flotation stages will be sufficient to achieve the ‘high-grade’ market specification of 6.0% Li2O.
Addressing the test work, Zenith Managing Director Michael Clifford stated: “Both the sighter flotation test work and bench scale calcination-leach tests results were extremely positive and confirm the amenability of eucryptite mineralisation to conventional treatment processes and hence confirm eucryptite as a viable lithium target.
“Both the sighter flotation test work and bench scale calcination-leach tests results were extremely positive”
Achieving these outcomes with a limited number of tests is also testament to the processing expertise which EVM brings to the Zenith Lithium Joint Venture partnership.”
The company also notes that the results from the calcination-leach test returned a lithium extraction of 91.3% from an unconcentrated eucryptite feed sample.
In addition, a fully permitted reverse circulation (RC) drilling program consisting of 45 initial drillholes for 9000m has started. The goal is to follow up on ‘thick, high-grade’ lithium mineralisation that was identified in the maiden drill program at the project’s Rio pegmatite prospect, with results indicating 20m @ 1.0% Li2O, including 10m @ 1.7% Li2O.
The Split Rocks Project is located within the Southern Cross region of the Forrestania greenstone belt in Western Australia and is prospective for gold and lithium mineralisation with Zenith owning 100% of all associated tenements.
The projects associated lithium district is host to SQM-Wesfarmers Mt Holland/Earl Grey lithium deposit that currently boasts a Measured, Indicated, and Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) of 189Mt @ 1.5% Li2O (66Mt @ 1.58% Li2O Measured, 106Mt @ 1.52% Li2O Indicated, and 17Mt @ 1.11% Li2O Inferred.
With the metallurgical test work now complete, Zenith Minerals announces that it remains focused on the current RC drilling at the Rio pegmatite prospect.
Images: Zenith Minerals Ltd
