SPC Nickel Reports Positive Metallurgical Results from the West Graham Project, Sudbury, Ontario
Summary of Metallurgical Results
- The West Graham Resource is a disseminated sulphide resource with 73% of the nickel hosted in nickel sulphides (pentlandite), 14% contained in pyrrhotite, 6% in pyrite and 7% in non-sulphide gangue ("NSG"). Effectively all copper is present as chalcopyrite.
- Five regional composites and 1 master composite submitted for metallurgical testing.
- Locked cycle testing produced an 18.4% Cu+Ni(10.6% Ni) rougher-cleaner concentrate.
- Combined rougher-cleaner concentrate and pyrrhotite rejection circuit cleaner concentrate recovered 70% of the nickel in feed - equivalent to 96% of the Ni present in nickel sulphide - and 85% of the copper into a combined concentrate grading 14.8% Cu+Ni (8.8% Ni).
- Effective Cu-Ni separation of the rougher-cleaner concentrate was demonstrated in the lab with 80% Cu recovery (from Cu-Ni stage feed) into a copper concentrate grading 26% Cu and 1.8% Ni.
- No impurity or penalty elements present in the concentrates.
- The concentrate produced would be consistent with that from other
Sudbury Basin ores and could be integrated into existingSudbury mills as incremental metal units in a blended feed scenario.
Metallurgical Study Summary
Seventeen (17) drill holes were identified to create five composites representing the
Bulk material from each of the regional composites was blended in the proportion of the regional mass contained within the mineral resource to create the master composite. In decreasing order of abundance, the East (36%), North (25%), West (23%), South (10%) then Central (6%) regions contribute to the master composite. Head assays for each of the regional composites are shown in Table 1 and are consistent with the expected results based on drill core assays.
Table 1: Composite and Master Sample Head Grades
|
Region |
|
Ni |
|
Cu |
|
Co |
|
Pd |
|
Pt |
|
Au |
|
S |
|
Fe |
|
Si |
|
Mg |
|
Sulphide |
|
Central |
|
0.47 |
|
0.23 |
|
0.019 |
|
19 |
|
47 |
|
24 |
|
2.94 |
|
10.2 |
|
24.4 |
|
3.24 |
|
0.31 |
|
North |
|
0.31 |
|
0.21 |
|
0.012 |
|
19 |
|
36 |
|
15 |
|
1.73 |
|
8.5 |
|
24.9 |
|
3.33 |
|
0.24 |
|
South |
|
0.55 |
|
0.30 |
|
0.020 |
|
16 |
|
54 |
|
15 |
|
3.38 |
|
10.8 |
|
24.2 |
|
2.68 |
|
0.44 |
|
East |
|
0.44 |
|
0.24 |
|
0.017 |
|
19 |
|
38 |
|
20 |
|
2.62 |
|
9.8 |
|
24.7 |
|
3.23 |
|
0.33 |
|
West |
|
0.38 |
|
0.24 |
|
0.015 |
|
53 |
|
28 |
|
24 |
|
2.16 |
|
8.3 |
|
25.2 |
|
2.91 |
|
0.33 |
|
Master |
|
0.47 |
|
0.26 |
|
0.018 |
|
22 |
|
32 |
|
21 |
|
2.78 |
|
9.5 |
|
25.0 |
|
3.17 |
|
0.39 |
Samples of each regional composite and of the master composite were taken for mineralogical investigation using Scanning Electron Microscope ("QEMSCAN"), Electron Probe Microanalysis and X-Ray Diffraction. The major sulphide minerals were identified as pentlandite ("Pn"), pyrrhotite ("Po"), chalcopyrite and pyrite ("Py"). An estimated 73% of the nickel is hosted in nickel sulphides (pentlandite) and 14% contained in pyrrhotite, 6% in pyrite and 7% in non-sulphide gangue while effectively all copper is present as chalcopyrite.
Timed grind tests and flotation test work was completed on the five regional composites in order to model variability across the deposit. A 6-cycle locked cycle test was conducted with products from the last 3 cycles combined to create the mass balance and complete a mineralogical evaluation on the products. Results are shown in Table 2.
Rougher Cleaner Concentrate ("Rghr Clnr Conc") collected 59% of the Ni (66% of the Pn) and 78% of the Cu into a 10.6% Ni/18.4% Cu+Ni concentrate. The combined Rghr Clnr Conc and Pyrrhotite Cleaner Concentrate ("Po Clnr Conc") averaged 70% (76.7% of the Pn) total recovery and 85% Cu total recovery at 8.8% Ni/14.8% Cu+Ni concentrate. Further upgrading is highly probable in a plant environment with less entrainment of liberated Pyrrhotite and NSG than was experienced in the low mass recovery laboratory tests.
Table 2: Results of Locked Cycle Test
|
Product |
Mass |
Assays (%) |
Recovery (%) |
||||||||||
|
grams |
|
% |
Cu |
Ni |
|
Fe |
|
S |
Cu |
Ni |
Fe |
S |
|
|
Calculated Head |
5972.2 |
|
100 |
0.24 |
0.43 |
|
9.71 |
|
2.72 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
|
Rghr Clnr Conc |
143.4 |
|
2.40 |
7.80 |
10.58 |
|
30.92 |
|
31.34 |
78.3 |
58.7 |
7.7 |
27.7 |
|
Po Clnr Conc |
61.1 |
|
1.02 |
1.63 |
4.63 |
|
34.34 |
|
29.01 |
7.0 |
10.9 |
3.6 |
10.9 |
|
Po Rghr Tl |
729.2 |
|
12.21 |
0.13 |
0.65 |
|
23.42 |
|
12.50 |
6.6 |
18.2 |
29.5 |
56.2 |
|
Rghr Scav Tl |
5038.5 |
|
84.37 |
0.02 |
0.06 |
|
6.82 |
|
0.17 |
8.1 |
12.1 |
59.3 |
5.2 |
|
RghrClnr + Po Clnr Conc |
204.5 |
|
3.42 |
5.96 |
8.81 |
|
31.94 |
|
30.65 |
85.3 |
69.6 |
11.3 |
38.6 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Product |
Mass |
Assays (%, ppb) |
Recovery (%) |
||||||||||
|
grams |
|
% |
Co % |
Pd ppb |
|
Pt ppb |
|
Au ppb |
Co |
Pd |
Pt |
Au |
|
|
Calculated Head |
5972.2 |
|
100 |
0.015 |
15.2 |
|
35.6 |
|
19.8 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
100.0 |
|
Rghr Clnr Conc |
143.4 |
|
2.40 |
0.33 |
382 |
|
578 |
|
278 |
54.3 |
60.2 |
39.0 |
33.8 |
|
Po Clnr Conc |
61.1 |
|
1.02 |
0.19 |
307 |
|
722 |
|
179 |
13.0 |
20.6 |
20.8 |
9.3 |
|
Po Rghr Tl |
729.2 |
|
12.21 |
0.02 |
24 |
|
41 |
|
30 |
14.3 |
19.2 |
14.1 |
18.5 |
|
Rghr Scav Tl |
5038.5 |
|
84.37 |
0.00 |
<5 |
|
11 |
|
9 |
18.4 |
0.0 |
26.1 |
38.4 |
|
RghrClnr + Po Clnr Conc |
204.5 |
|
3.42 |
0.29 |
360 |
|
621 |
|
248 |
67.2 |
80.8 |
59.8 |
43.0 |
|
Note: Rougher Cleaner Concentrate (Rghr Clnr Conc), Pyrrhotite Cleaner Concentrate (Po Clnr Conc), Pyrrhotite Rougher Tail (Po Rghr Tl), Rougher Scavenger Tail (Rghr Scav Tl) |
A Cu/Ni Separation test demonstrated a Final Cu Concentrate with 26.0% Cu and 1.8% Ni.
In the locked cycle test Cobalt recovery averaged 54% to the Rghr Clnr Conc. with a further 13% in the Po Clnr Conc. for a combined total of 67%. Pd, Pt, and Au were all under 1 g/t in concentrates. Minor elements of interest to
2025 LKE Drill Results
In
Hole LKE-25-001 intersected a 49.0 metre zone of 'West Graham style' Ni-Cu-PGM mineralization between 1,693 and 1,742 metres, consisting of 2-10% blebby and disseminated sulphides hosted with norites proximal to the basal contact. Higher-grade sections containing greater than 10% sulphides were encountered over intervals exceeding 10.0 metres. Assays results are shown below in Table 3.
Table 3: Complete assay results from the 2025 drill program on the
|
HOLE ID |
|
From |
|
To |
|
Length |
|
Ni |
|
Cu |
|
Co |
|
Pt |
|
Pd |
|
Au |
|
Ag |
|
|
|||||
|
LKE-25-001 |
|
1693.0 |
|
1742.0 |
|
49.0 |
|
0.35 |
|
0.28 |
|
0.01 |
|
0.38 |
|
0.22 |
|
0.12 |
|
1.67 |
|
|
|||||
|
including |
|
1700.0 |
|
1710.8 |
|
10.8 |
|
0.52 |
|
0.42 |
|
0.01 |
|
0.57 |
|
0.29 |
|
0.30 |
|
2.48 |
|
|
|||||
|
including |
|
1725.5 |
|
1738.0 |
|
12.5 |
|
0.46 |
|
0.30 |
|
0.01 |
|
0.43 |
|
0.11 |
|
0.08 |
|
1.70 |
|
|
|||||
|
and |
|
1793.0 |
|
1803.0 |
|
10.0 |
|
0.41 |
|
0.39 |
|
0.01 |
|
0.08 |
|
0.03 |
|
0.03 |
|
2.45 |
|
|
|||||
|
2. Lengths refer to downhole length; insufficient work has been done to estimate true thickness. |
Due to the depth of drilling and greater than expected hole deviation, LKE-25-001 did not intersect the target in the optimal location. While the original plan was to intersect the centre of the modeled EM conductor (see Figure 1 of news release date
A follow-up borehole EM survey completed in the hole identified a strong off-hole anomaly immediately up-dip, correlating closely with the highest assay values within the mineralized interval. The anomaly has been modeled as a 350 metre by 125 metre target with an estimated conductance of 4,000 Siemens. The Company's technical team considers this to be a highly compelling target given its size, strength and close proximity to known mineralization.
About the West Graham Deposit
In
Quality Assurance, Quality Control and Qualified Persons
The technical elements of this news release have been approved by Mr.
About
Cautionary Note on Forward-Looking Information
Except for statements of historical fact contained herein, the information in this news release constitutes "forward-looking information" within the meaning of Canadian securities law. Such forward-looking information may be identified by words such as "plans", "proposes", "estimates", "intends", "expects", "believes", "may", "will" and include without limitation, statements regarding estimated capital and operating costs, expected production timeline, benefits of updated development plans, foreign exchange assumptions and regulatory approvals. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate; actual results and future events could differ materially from such statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, among others, metal prices, competition, risks inherent in the mining industry, and regulatory risks. Most of these factors are outside the control of
Neither
_________________________
|
1 Steve Wilson, PEng, is a mineral processing professional who has worked extensively in base and precious metal processing and testing. He has almost 20 years experience with Inco (Vale) working on Ni-Cu-PGM processing and was the Global VP, Mineralogy and Metallurgical testing for SGS. Steve is a registered engineer in the province of |
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