Macarthur Minerals, an Australian based resource development company, has reported the latest results of two metallurgical test work programs that were specifically conducted to optimise the Ularring Hematite Project resources.
In Q4 of 2011, a phase I metallurgical test work program was commissioned by the company based on 200 kg of sample obtained from diamond drill core, which in turn was collected from the Snark location to differentiate this material’s response to magnetic separation processes and standard gravity beneficiation processes.
Positive results were obtained from this work and suggested that through standard gravity beneficiation methods, it is possible to retrieve materials with over 60% of iron grade with more than 63% recovery. Through the magnetic fractionation process, the results were positive, and this necessitated a follow-up of magnetic fractionation as an option to standard gravity processes.
In February 2012, Macarthur Minerals commissioned a follow-up metallurgical test work, whose objective was to validate that beneficiation may be used to offer indicative design data for a beneficiation procedure that can manage all types of materials, and such beneficiation could also be applied to all types of hematite materials discovered at the Ularring Hematite Project across a range of iron grades.
The important discoveries of this test work phase validated that end products grading of more than 60% iron with low levels of deleterious elements were obtained from 13 of the 15 samples at recoveries, utilizing standard gravity separation or magnetic separation or a combination of both. Additionally, two more samples were beneficiated; however they failed to meet the iron product benchmark of 60%. Both magnetic separation and standard gravity beneficiated processes successfully upgraded all samples, and all samples could be instantly beneficiated. Magnetic separation produced high grade (+60% iron products).
In order to confirm the conceptual flow sheet as well as to generate economic performance and comprehensive engineering design parameters, Macarthur Minerals has started the third and last phase of metallurgical test work.
Source: http://macarthurminerals.com/