NGEx Minerals Achieves High Copper and Gold Recoveries in Lunahuasi Metallurgical Tests
Event summary
- NGEx Minerals reported preliminary metallurgical results from its Lunahuasi Project in Argentina, achieving copper recoveries of 92.0% to 94.2% and gold recoveries of 61.1% to 87.1%.
- The GlassLock™ treatment removed over 95% of arsenic from copper concentrates, reducing mass by 25% to 30% without losing copper, gold, or silver.
- Three mineralized zones (Mars, Saturn, Jupiter) were tested, with copper concentrates grading between 23.4% and 39.4% and gold concentrations of 9.5 g/t to 43.7 g/t.
- The company plans further optimization work to evaluate grind size, reagent selection, and concentrate grade and recovery relationships.
The big picture
NGEx Minerals' positive metallurgical results from the Lunahuasi Project highlight the potential for high-grade copper and gold recoveries, which are crucial for the project's advancement. The successful removal of arsenic using the GlassLock™ process addresses a key technical challenge, positioning the project favorably within the competitive landscape of copper-gold exploration. The company's focus on further optimization and scalability reflects broader industry trends toward improving mineral processing efficiency and sustainability.
What we're watching
- Process Optimization
- The pace at which NGEx can optimize its flotation and concentrate treatment processes will determine the project's economic viability.
- Arsenic Treatment
- Whether the GlassLock™ process can be scaled up effectively will be critical for producing marketable copper concentrates.
- Mineralization Variability
- How variability within and between the mineralized zones impacts overall recovery rates and processing efficiency.
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