Generation reports significant increase in PGM, copper at Marathon
Generation Mining Limited is pleased to report an update to its work program on the Marathon Palladium project in northwestern Ontario. The company has successfully completed bench-scale metallurgical test work, resulting in a favourable and significant increase to projected Platinum Group Metals (“PGM”) and Copper (“Cu”) recovery. Expected increases in metal recovery will be included in the feasibility study work.
Metallurgical testing commenced at SGS Canada Inc. in Lakefield, Ontario in June 2020 for the Feasibility Study that is currently underway. The 2020 Phase 1 Metallurgical Testing program is being overseen by Steve Haggarty, P.Eng., of Haggarty Technical Services (“HTS”) and Ausenco Engineering Canada Inc. (“Ausenco”) (who will be the Qualified Person for the upcoming metallurgical and processing sections of the Feasibility Study Technical Report).
The goal for Phase 1 Metallurgical Testing was to improve overall metal recovery relative to the PEA and validate changes considered to the process flowsheet relative to previous concepts considered for the project. The 2020 Phase 1 Metallurgical Testing program focused on three main aspects:
- Pursue improved metal recovery with optimization of rougher flotation feed grind size, flotation reagents, and the implementation of a PGM Scavenger circuit;
- Reduction in the initial capital cost of the concentrator by evaluating state-of-the-art flotation technology such as the Woodgrove Direct Flotation Reactor (DFR) technology;
- Improved flotation circuit operability with improved control and management of rejected pyrite and pyrrhotite.
Samples used for the Phase 1 Metallurgical Testing consisted of contiguous, discrete intervals selected from 2019 diamond drill core making up three composites from the South pit (the W-Horizon), five composites from the Main zone and a previously preserved 2012 composite from the Main Zone referenced as “Composite 3”. Composites from recent 2019 drilling were selected to provide a range in Cu, Pd, Pt and Au head grade with a past to present comparison using the 2012 Composite 3 to provide updated estimates for recovery that will be applied in the Feasibility Study.
Jamie Levy, President and Chief Executive Officer of Gen Mining, commented: “We are extremely pleased with the Phase 1 Metallurgical Testing program. A 4% improvement in recovery for Palladium, a 3% improvement for Copper, and a 10% recovery for Platinum is a direct financial benefit to the Marathon Project. The test program also considered the inclusion of the innovative Woodgrove DFR technology in process plant design which will assist in decreasing constructed capital costs when compared to the implementation of conventional technology.”
A Phase 2 metallurgical testing program with a pilot plant at SGS-Lakefield has now commenced. The Phase 2 metallurgical testing will be done on bulk samples recently extracted from the Main Zone and W-Horizon, in addition to the preserved Composite 3. The intent of Phase 2 pilot plant testing is to fully validate the flowsheet, produce a final concentrate that will assist with concentrate marketing and allow for increased confidence on the operability of the plant. This phase of the project is not needed for compliance with NI43-101 regulations but is intended to advance efforts for post-feasibility study development. The Phase 2 metallurgical work will continue into Q4 2020 and is not expected to delay the progress of the Feasibility Study or project design.
About the Company
Gen Mining’s focus is the development of the Marathon Project, the largest undeveloped platinum group metal Mineral Resource in North America. The Marathon property covers a land package of approximately 22,000 hectares, or 220 square kilometres.
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