Jindalee Resources Ltd (ASX:JRL) has completed initial metallurgical test work on magnesite from the Arthur River deposit at its Prospect Ridge magnesite project in northwest Tasmania.
The testing has demonstrated the potential for a high-grade product to be produced, but significant additional work will be required to confirm the nature and scale of the opportunity.
Work supervised by industry expert
Jindalee commenced the test work in June 2017, using drill core sourced from programs undertaken by the previous operator.
Analysis was conducted at the ALS Laboratories in Burnie, with intermediate steps undertaken at ALS Perth.
The work was supervised by metallurgist and magnetite industry expert John Canterford of Process Technologies Australia.
Potential product confirmed
The testwork consisted of three components: calcination; physical beneficiation; and determination of the bond ball work index.
All the data generally indicated that a chemically reactive calcine could in principle be produced.
However, a target magnesia content of plus-95% was not routinely achieved, mainly because of the lack of any physical beneficiation steps and the mineralogical characteristics of the feedstock.
Flotation was able to enhance the quality caustic calcined magnesia, but the results also demonstrated that a higher silica/magnesite selectivity is required to ensure overall magnesium recovery in the end product is not compromised.
Testing also determined bond ball work indices, data that would be required to specify the design criteria of any future comminution circuit.
Jindalee is looking for a suitable partner with technical and marketing expertise to assist in further developing the project and a potential high-grade magnesia product.