URU Metals Limited
Acid Leach Test Work Results at Zebediela
3 November 2017
URU Metals Limited
(“URU Metals” or “the Company”)
Successful Acid Leach Test Work Results at Zebediela
Initial metallurgical test work results reported 80% nickel dissolution
URU Metals is pleased to announce the results of the nickel leach test work programme on the Zebediela Nickel and PGE Project, located in Limpopo, South Africa. Fresh material from the recent drilling programme was submitted for acid leach test work to assess the amenability of the Zebediela material to percolation leaching with respect to nickel recovery and acid consumption.
Fresh material from diamond drill hole Z017 was submitted to Mintek laboratory in Johannesburg, South Africa. Approximately 100 kg of the material was combined and all crushed to pass through 75 micron for iso-pH tests, agitated tank leach amenability tests and chemical head and solid residue assays. Chemical assays where performed by ICP-OES.
The oxidative acidic leach test work resulted in a dissolution of 80% nickel after 26 days at a pH of 1.8 and the acid consumption reached 447 kg/t. There will be a secondary process to recover the nickel from the acid leach.
Figure 1 in the attached pdf file (please click on the below link) illustrates the rate of nickel dissolution in the sample over a period of days; Figure 2 illustrates the corresponding rate of acid consumption over the same period.
http://www.rns-pdf.londonstockexchange.com/rns/4649V_1-2017-11-2.pdf
The dissolution of 80% nickel is extremely positive for the Project as it highlights the potential for acid leaching as a processing method that could save on both capital and operational costs. The Company intends to investigate this further, including the recovery of the nickel from the acid leach.
Based on this result, the Company will proceed with the next phase of metallurgical test work to investigate ways to reduce the acid consumption further and demonstrate the feasibility of leaching on mineralisation from the Zebediela Project.
John Zorbas, CEO of URU Metals, commented:
“The Company is delighted to report these acid leaching results. We are encouraged by the high nickel dissolution that was achieved in the first phase of the test work programme. Combined with the increasing price of nickel, we look forward to the potentially positive effect that the nickel leaching could have on the project economics.
Due to nickel successfully dissolving in the solution, we are now considering it as potentially a lower cost alternative to building a flotation plant. The development of a leaching facility could see a reduction in project capital expenditure. Our team will continue to evaluate feasible project design options, and additional leaching test work will continue to assess cost-efficient leaching alternatives to improve dissolution.”
This announcement contains inside information.
END
