ValOre Metals Corp.
(
“ValOre”;
the “Company”; TSX‐V: VO; OTC:
KVLQF; Frankfurt:
KEQ0) today announced metallurgical results for
two preliminary Platsol™ tests, and the initiation of multiple
optimization studies for ValOre’s 100%-owned Pedra Branca Platinum
Group Element (“PGE”) Project in northeastern Brazil.
“The pace of success at Pedra Branca has
increased dramatically in the last three months, including today’s
release of PGE metallurgical recovery rates of in excess of 93% for
palladium and 95% for platinum using the Platsol™ process,” stated
ValOre’s Chairman and CEO, Jim Paterson. “Together with an
aggressive property-wide exploration program, we are now focused on
rapidly optimizing the conditions, procedures and processes to
further maximize the upside potential of the Pedra Branca
project.”
Highlights
from Platsol™
Tests and Optimization
Studies at Pedra
Branca
- Sample material for the Platsol™
tests was collected from outcrops at the Trapia and Curiu deposits
areas at Pedra Branca;
- Platsol™ metallurgical test
recoveries of 93.4 to 93.6% for
palladium (“Pd”) and 95.3
to 95.7% for platinum
(“Pt”) were achieved in two tests conducted at SGS Lakefield,
Ontario (“SGS”);
- Two additional Platsol™ tests will
now be performed by SGS to determine the effects of adding
elemental sulphur to the autoclave to optimize conditions required
for PGE and gold (Au) recoveries;
- A comprehensive mineralogical
evaluation is on-going at SGS to characterize the speciation of
palladium and platinum in Pedra Branca mineralization to guide
future process optimization initiatives;
- Falcon Ultra-Fine (“UF”) gravity
separation testwork continues as a potential preconcentration
circuit to upgrade feed material and improve mass pull;
- Hot cyanide leach testwork has been
initiated to assess the recovery rates of palladium, platinum and
gold in a cyanide leaching process;
- STEINERT sensor-based ore sorting
testwork will commence shortly with the shipment of 100
representative chip samples from historic drilling at the Esbarro
deposit.
Platsol™
Metallurgical Testwork
Metallurgical recovery results from two Platsol™
leach tests show recovery rates of 93.4 to 93.6% for Pd and 95.3 to
95.7% for Pt. Samples tested were collected from outcrops at two of
the five NI 43-101 defined 2PGE+Au deposits areas, namely Trapia
(219,000oz at 1.19 g 2PGE+Au/t) and Curiu (100,000oz at 1.93 g
2PGE+Au/t). See Table 1 below for a summary of results and Table 2
below for sample descriptions.
Table 1: Summary of
Preliminary Results of
Platsol™
Testwork
Test |
Final PLS, mg/L |
Final Residue, g/t |
% Recovered |
Head Grades, g/t |
Pt |
Pd |
Pt |
Pd |
Rh |
Au |
Pt |
Pd |
* Rh |
* Au |
Pt |
Pd |
Rh |
Au |
Trapia Outcrop |
3.25 |
4.29 |
0.95 |
1.84 |
0.08 |
0.27 |
95.7 |
93.6 |
47 |
67 |
17.0 |
21.6 |
0.15 |
0.83 |
Curiu Outcrop |
0.95 |
1.88 |
0.17 |
0.47 |
0.32 |
0.28 |
95.3 |
93.4 |
29 |
7 |
3.95 |
7.86 |
0.45 |
0.30 |
* Au and Rh extractions are estimated by
comparing assayed residue grades to assayed head grades.
Table 2: Summary of Platsol™ Sample
Material
Sample Type |
Source |
Weight Received |
Pd (g/t) |
Pt (g/t) |
Rh (g/t) |
Au (g/t) |
3PGE+Au (g/t) |
Outcrop |
Curiu Deposit (NI 43-101) |
20-25 kg |
7.86 |
3.95 |
0.45 |
0.30 |
12.6 |
Outcrop |
Trapia West Deposit (NI 43-101) |
20-25 kg |
21.6 |
17.0 |
0.25 |
0.83 |
39.6 |
Baseline test conditions for the two Platsol™
leach tests were evaluated at the following settings:
- Temperature: 230◦C
- Oxygen pressure: 700 kPa
- Residence time: 120 minutes
- Concentrate regrind (as received,
fine grind)
- Chloride addition: 25 g/L
Sampling and assaying of the autoclave test
products included the below analytes, enabling the production of a
complete metallurgical balance, indicating precious and base metals
recoveries, weight loss and reagent additions.
- Solids sampled and assayed: Pt, Pd,
Rh, Cu, Ni, WRA (whole-rock analysis)
- Solutions sampled and assayed: Pt,
Pd, Rh, Cu, Ni, Fe, full ICP scan, Fe²⁺, ORP and Free Acid
The very encouraging recoveries obtained for Pd
(93.4 to 93.6%) and Pt (95.3 to 95.7%) are an important benchmark
in the metallurgical advancement of the Pedra Branca project.
Efforts are now focused on processes to optimize the metallurgical
conditions required for Platsol™ 2PGE+Au recovery, including:
upgrading feed material by gravity concentration, upgrading feed by
sensor-based ore sorting, and a controlled addition of elemental
sulphur to Platsol™ autoclave to reduce sulphuric acid (H2SO4)
consumption. Hot cyanidation testwork has also commenced to test
the leachability of palladium, platinum and gold.
For a summary of Platsol™ test conditions,
operation details, and final analytical data associated with the
first two tests reported herein, CLICK HERE for Tables 3A, 3B and
CLICK HERE for Table 4.
About
Platsol™
Platsol™ is a high temperature (>200°C)
pressure leaching process designed to recover PGEs, gold and base
metals. Platsol™ has been shown to be particularly effective with
PGE ore feeds characterized by high concentrations of chromium and
low concentrations of sulphide, much like Pedra Branca. The PGEs
and gold are solubilized as chlorocomplexes by the addition of
chloride salt to the autoclave, while base metal sulphides (“BMS”)
are oxidized to form soluble metal sulphate complexes. The precious
metals can be recovered directly form the autoclave discharge
slurry by carbon absorption, or by precipitation with sulphide
ions. Platsol™ consists of standard, proven traditional
technologies that are in use in mines around the world.
Further information about PLATSOL™ can be found
in the link below:
https://www.sgs.ca/en/mining/metallurgy-and-process-design/unit-operations-and-metallurgical-services/pressure-and-ambient-leaching/platsol
STEINERT Ore
Sorting
Optimizing metallurgical conditions and
performance in PLATSOL™ may be achieved by precursory sensory-based
ore sorting. This could serve to effectively upgrade the feed
material (grade) by either concentrating PGE-hosting minerals (i.e.
chromite grains) and/or separating out gangue minerals which
adversely affect PLATSOL™ (i.e. olivine cumulates). As such, ValOre
has engaged STEINERT Latinoamericana in Belo Horizonte, Minas
Gerais, Brazil, an experienced international group that specializes
in sensor-based ore sorting technologies, to initiate an initial
round of testwork.
ValOre geologists have sampled, photographed and
mineralogically characterized 100 historical drill core samples
representative of feed material lithologies from the Esbarro
2PGE+Au deposit (NI 43-101 resource of 394,000oz at 1.23 g
2PGE+Au/t). These core samples have been shipped to STEINERT
Latinoamericana with the expected commencement of sensory-based
characterization and ore sorting testwork in two weeks, with
preliminary results anticipated within one month.
Further information about STEINERT Ore Sorting
can be found in the link below:
https://steinertglobal.com/
Falcon UF Gravity
Separation
Previous mineralogical studies at Pedra Branca
suggest a very fine nature to the PGE minerals (<9 micrometer
(“μm”)) and thus multiple rounds of testwork have been initiated to
assess the potential to upgrade feed material by means of a fine
grind (-20 to -30 μm) followed by gravity separation using the
Falcon UF Gravity Concentrator. The primary objective is to
scavenge ultra-fine mineral particles that are typically rejected
from conventional processing circuits as slimes.
Further information about Falcon UF gravity
separation can be found in the link below:
https://minerals.seprosystems.com/equipment/falcon-uf-gravity-concentrators/
PGE Cyanidation Testwork
Palladium and platinum are readily soluble in a
cyanide leach solution under the right metallurgical conditions. To
assess the potential amenability of hot cyanide leaching as means
to recover PGEs at Pedra Branca, SGS has initiated testwork on the
same samples used in the PLATSOL™ tests reported in this release,
as well as tailings material collected from the first Falcon UF
Gravity Concentrator test.
The hot cyanide leach testwork is on-going, with
results expected in 2 weeks.
Further information about cyanide leaching can
be found in the link below:
https://www.sgs.ca/en/mining/metallurgy-and-process-design/cyanidation-technologies/cyanide-leaching
About SGS
Lakefield, Ontario
SGS is the world’s leading inspection,
verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized
as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than
89,000 employees, SGS operates a network of more than 2,600 offices
and laboratories around the world.
SGS fit-for-purpose solutions encompass the
skills of qualified geologists, geostatistician, analytical
chemists, mineralogists, metallurgists, process engineers and
mining engineers brought together to provide accurate and timely
mineral and process evaluation services across the entire mining
life cycle.
The SGS laboratory in Lakefield, Ontario, Canada
operates with ISO/IEC 17025 Scopes of Accreditations. For a full
list of our scope of accredited testing, please visit
https://www.scc.ca/en/search/laboratories.
Qualified Person
(QP)
The technical information in this news release
has been prepared in accordance with Canadian regulatory
requirements set out in NI 43-101 and reviewed and approved by
Colin Smith, P.Geo., ValOre’s QP, who oversees New Project Review
for ValOre.
About ValOre Metals Corp.
ValOre Metals Corp.
(TSX‐V: VO) is a
Canadian company with a portfolio of high‐quality exploration
projects. ValOre’s team aims to deploy capital and knowledge on
projects which benefit from substantial prior investment by
previous owners, existence of high-value mineralization on a large
scale, and the possibility of adding tangible value through
exploration, process improvement, and innovation.
In May 2019, ValOre announced the acquisition of
the Pedra Branca Platinum Group Elements (PGE) property, in Brazil,
to bolster its existing Angilak uranium, Genesis/Hatchet uranium
and Baffin gold projects in Canada.
The Pedra Branca PGE Project comprises 38
exploration licenses covering a total area of 38,940 hectares
(96,223 acres) in northeastern Brazil. At Pedra Branca, 5 distinct
PGE+Au deposit areas host, in aggregate, a NI 43-101 Inferred
Resource of 1,067,000 ounces 2PGE+ Au contained in 27.2 million
tonnes grading 1.22 g/t 2PGE+Au (see ValOre’s July 23, 2019 news
release). PGE mineralization outcrops at surface and all of the
currently known inferred resources are potentially open
pittable.
Comprehensive exploration programs have
demonstrated the "District Scale" potential of ValOre’s Angilak
Property in Nunavut Territory, Canada that hosts the Lac 50 Trend
having a NI 43‐101 Inferred Resource of 2,831,000 tonnes grading
0.69% U3O8, totaling 43.3 million pounds U3O8. For disclosure
related to the inferred resource for the Lac 50 Trend uranium
deposits, please refer to ValOre's news release of March 1,
2013.
ValOre’s team has forged strong relationships
with sophisticated resource sector investors and partner Nunavut
Tunngavik Inc. (NTI) on both the Angilak and Baffin Gold
Properties. ValOre was the first company to sign a comprehensive
agreement to explore for uranium on Inuit Owned Lands in Nunavut
Territory and is committed to building shareholder value while
adhering to high levels of environmental and safety standards and
proactive local community engagement.
On behalf of the Board of Directors,
"Jim Paterson"
James R. Paterson, Chairman and CEO
ValOre Metals Corp.
For further information about, ValOre Metals
Corp. or this news release, please visit our website at
valoremetals.com or contact Investor Relations toll free at
1.888.331.2269, at 604.646.4527, or by email at
contact@valoremetals.com.
ValOre Metals Corp. is a proud member of
Discovery Group. For more information please visit:
discoverygroup.ca
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policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for
the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
This news release contains “forward-looking
statements” within the meaning of applicable securities laws.
Although ValOre believes that the expectations reflected in its
forward-looking statements are reasonable, such statements have
been based on factors and assumptions concerning future events that
may prove to be inaccurate. These factors and assumptions are based
upon currently available information to ValOre. Such statements are
subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors
that could influence actual results or events and cause actual
results or events to differ materially from those stated,
anticipated or implied in the forward-looking statements. A number
of important factors including those set forth in other public
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statements. The statements in this press release are made as of the
date of this release and, except as required by applicable law,
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revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a
result of new information, future events or otherwise. ValOre
undertakes no obligation to comment on analyses, expectations or
statements made by third parties in respect of ValOre, or its
financial or operating results or (as applicable), their
securities.
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