Rome Resources Reports Positive Metallurgical Results at Bisie North Project
Rome Resources Confirms Strong Copper and Tin Recoveries from Bisie North Metallurgical Tests in DRC
AIM-listed Rome Resources has reported encouraging copper and tin recovery results from metallurgical testing of ore samples taken from its Bisie North project in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
The update follows a drilling results announcement released on 16 January and marks a key step in assessing the project’s commercial potential.
Commenting on the results, Chief Executive Officer Paul Barrett said the preliminary findings significantly strengthen the case for commercialising both tin and copper mineralisation at Bisie North.
“These early metallurgical results are highly encouraging for the potential commercialisation of both tin and copper at Bisie North.
As the copper mineralisation at the Mont Agoma deposit is developed at shallow depths, its recovery and monetisation are expected to be highly accretive to overall project economics,” Barrett said.
Metallurgical testing was conducted by SGS on bulk samples from the tin, copper, and zinc zones to evaluate the feasibility of commercially recovering the various metals contained in the ore. Results for both tin and copper were particularly positive.
The tin zone sample responded strongly to gravity pre-concentration, with approximately 80 per cent of the tin reporting to an initial concentrate grading over 10 per cent tin. This was achieved from a head grade of 0.6 per cent tin, representing less than five per cent of the total mass.
Similarly, the copper zone sample showed strong gravity pre-concentration performance, with 96 per cent of the copper reporting to a concentrate grading 3.7 per cent copper from a head grade of 2.4 per cent copper, in less than 63 per cent of the mass.
Further testing showed that the copper sample also responded well to flotation, with 95.5 per cent of the copper reporting to the rougher flotation concentrate at a grade of 9.5 per cent copper.
Zinc in the sample followed the copper during flotation, indicating that differential flotation may be required to effectively separate the two metals.
The company noted that standard concentrate cleaning processes will be required in all cases to increase tin and copper grades to export specifications.
Meanwhile, drilling continues at the Kalayi target, with Rome Resources planning to commence drilling at Mont Agoma next month to further define the extent of tin and copper mineralisation, Barrett added.
