Great Southern Copper (GSCU ) has released results for preliminary metallurgical test-work on high-grade samples from the Mostaza copper-silver deposit in Chile.
Tests on two samples of high-grade mineralisation from the Mostaza deposit grading 5.09% copper and 279 grams per tonne silver achieved high recoveries exceeding 90% for copper and 85% for silver.
This resulted in a final concentrate with grades averaging 27% copper and 1,414 grams silver.
Recoveries for copper and silver may be further improved with optimisation of grinding and regrinding conditions.
Further test-work is now planned for drill-core samples across a broader range of copper-silver grades.
"GSC’s Mostaza copper-silver discovery keeps delivering,” said Sam Garrett, chief executive of Great Southern Copper.
“These outstanding results represent the next important step in the deposit’s progress to a potential resource, and ultimately, development. This first metallurgical test programme on the high-grade mineralisation from Mostaza has indicated that a conventional flotation recovery process could be highly effective in concentrating the prospective ore into a copper-silver concentrate product. The tests achieved recoveries of over 90% for copper and 85% for silver, producing concentrate grades averaging 27% copper and 1,414 grams per tonne silver. We are particularly encouraged that there is scope to improve recoveries further by optimising grinding and regrinding conditions in the metallurgical process which would add to what is already a very positive first result. We are very confident in moving to the next stage of test-work on drill-core composites testing a wider range of copper-silver grades. This work will comprise as part of the Phase IV drilling programme which we anticipate to commence within the next month.”
View from Vox
This is highly encouraging news, ahead of the Phase IV drill programme, which is due to start within the next month, which will also include the next phase of metallurgic test-work. The shares jumped by more than 6% on the open, in a market buoyed by strong copper prices. Great Southern is now building momentum, and it will be interesting to see what happens next.