Rome Resources (RMR ) has released results of the latest round of metallurgical testing on ore samples from its Bisie North project in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Metallurgical testing was undertaken by SGS on bulk samples from the tin, copper and zinc zones at Bisie North.
The tin zone sample responded well to gravity pre-concentration, with 80% of the tin reporting to a first concentrate at a grade of over 10% tin from a head grade of 0.6% tin in less than 5% of the mass.
Meanwhile, the copper zone sample has also responded well to gravity pre-concentration, with 96% of the copper reporting to a concentrate at a grade of 3.7% copper from a head grade of 2.4% copper in less than 63% of the mass.
The copper sample also responded very well to flotation, with 95.5% of the copper reporting to the rougher flotation at a grade of 9.5% copper. The zinc in this sample followed the copper, and differential flotation may therefore be considered to separate the copper and zinc.
Customary cleaning of the tin and copper concentrates will be required in order to raise the grade to export levels.
"These preliminary results are highly encouraging for the potential commercialisation of both the tin and copper at Bisie North,” said Paul Barrett, chief executive of Rome Resources.
“As the copper is developed at shallow depths in the Mont Agoma deposit, recovery and monetisation of this is expected to be highly accretive to the overall project economics. Currently, the drilling campaign at Kalayi continues and we will move to Mont Agoma next month to test further the extent of the tin and copper mineralisation.”
View from Vox
We know there’s plenty of tin and copper and Bisie North, and that the grades are good. We know too that it’s an established mining area, with Alphamin operating one of the world’s most significant tin mines just eight kilometres away. Now we also know that the metal that Rome Resources plans to mine can be extracted from its ore. So the stars are beginning to align, and the greater extent of the project will become clearer as results from the latest round of drilling start to come in. Lots to look forward to.