Rockfire Resources said early ore-sorting tests have increased the zinc grade of ore from its Molaoi project in Greece, supporting the case for adding a sorting stage to the mine’s future processing design.
This is the kind of news investors have been hoping for.
The tests, run by specialist TOMRA, used X-ray sorting technology to cut the volume of material to be treated and improve a project’s economics.
Rockfire said the first pass lifted the average grade from 5.85% zinc to 13.6%, a 132.5% uplift in its headline grade.
The grades were assessed over three stages of removing low-, medium-, and high-density ore, and top grade was achieved while keeping only about a third of the material and capturing the bulk of the zinc. Lower-grade sorting resulted in a 9.9% grade.
Investors will be encouraged by preliminary metallurgical results, but based on 48 small core samples, the project will need further assessment before the market gets too excited.
In addition, Rockfire said its maiden formal resource estimate for germanium is nearing completion, which could be a gamechanger for the firm.
David Price, Chief Executive Officer of Rockfire, said: “These initial ore sorting tests are very promising and demonstrate that the TOMRA XRT method of sorting can distinguish between ore and waste. This is an important first determination.”
“The next stage will be to provide TOMRA with a much larger bulk sample to undertake tests under commercial conditions. This bulk material is likely to be obtained from the underground once that is re-opened.”
“The uplift in grade is extremely encouraging, which may potentially negate any overbreak dilution during mining of the stopes. The mass pull is vital and it’s very pleasing to see such high percentages of material being successfully identified and separated from the waste rock.”