Jan 6 2011
Sama Resources Inc. (TSX VENTURE:SME) has announced that the first phase of metallurgical testing on its poly-metallic Samapleu Project in Côte d'Ivoire returned better than anticipated recovery results.
- Metallurgical test work performed by SGS laboratory in Vancouver, BC.
- Nickel recovery of 70%; copper recovery of 86%.
- A 15% nickel+copper concentrate has been achieved during preliminary tests.
A nickel and copper combined concentrate grading of 15% has been produced from mineralized material taken from drill core obtained to date.
"The Company is very encouraged by these metallurgical results from its Samapleu poly-metallic deposit. It is Sama's objective to proceed with a scoping study on the viability of an open-pit mining operation at the Samapleu Project before the end of 2011," stated Dr. Marc-Antoine Audet, President and CEO of the Company.
This work is being carried out by Société Générale de Surveillance ("SGS") of Vancouver, BC and evaluated by Blue Coast Metallurgy Ltd. of Nanaimo, BC. The results suggest that the metal recovery and the metallurgical grade of concentrate are comparable, if not better than those typically reported at other nickel sulphide operations treating similar ore grades around the world. Test work continues and should be completed by the end of January 2011.
Metallurgical test work at SGS was performed on two mineralized blends: a high grade blend grading of 1.71% nickel and 1.71% copper ("Comp 1") and a 'production' blend grading of 0.53% nickel and 0.52% copper ("Comp 2").
With cleaner flotation tests still to be completed on Comp 1, initial flotation tests have shown nickel and copper recoveries of 88% and 95%, respectively, to a bulk concentrate assaying 10% nickel+copper prior to final flotation upgrading. The Comp 2 blend in cleaner flotation tests returned a 15% nickel+copper concentrate with nickel and copper recoveries of 70% and 86%, respectively. Favourable cobalt metallurgy appears to accompany the nickel and copper performance. Information on the performance of Platinum Group Elements in flotation will be available at the end of January.
The Samapleu Project is a joint venture among the Company's 100% owned subsidiary SAMA Nickel Corporation (66â…”%) and SODEMI (33â…“%).
This News Release was prepared by Dr. Marc-Antoine Audet, P.Geo, President and CEO of Sama Resources Inc. and by Dr Phillip Mackey, P.Eng. and metallurgical consultant, both acting as Qualified Persons under NI 43-101.
Source: Sama Resources Inc.