Xtract Resources Advances Silverking Copper-Silver Project as Processing Operations Begin in Zambia
Xtract Resources’ Silverking Copper-Silver Project in Zambia Begins Initial Production as Plant Ramp-Up Continues
London-listed Xtract Resources has announced that initial production has commenced at the Silverking copper-silver project in Zambia, where its joint venture partner, Oval Mining, has started processing mixed oxide-sulphide ore through the project’s flotation plant.
The company said the operation has entered the early production phase, with the processing plant now handling ore from the open pit as the project moves towards higher and more consistent operating levels.
Oval has recently upgraded the flotation plant to increase processing capacity and is targeting an optimised throughput rate of approximately 28 tonnes per hour.
The upgrades form part of efforts to improve operational performance as mining progresses into areas containing a greater proportion of sulphide ore.
Xtract said production is being progressively ramped up, although concentrate grades remain variable during the transition between oxide and sulphide material.
The company noted that the plant’s demonstrated ability to recover oxide material during the early phase of operations provides encouragement for further optimisation.
The project team is continuing work on reagent optimisation to improve copper recovery rates and enhance overall plant performance.
Meanwhile, mining activities are advancing, with the completion of the fifth blast in the open pit moving the operation closer to predominantly sulphide ore zones, where more stable processing conditions are expected.
Xtract Resources chairman Colin Bird said the project was making steady progress as the team works through the early operational challenges associated with transitioning between different ore types.
“Production is now being progressively ramped up. While concentrate grades remain variable as the balance between oxide and sulphide material evolves, the plant’s demonstrated ability to recover oxides is encouraging,” Bird said.
He added that ongoing optimisation efforts would focus on improving copper recoveries as the project advances towards more consistent sulphide ore processing.
The Silverking project forms part of Xtract Resources’ broader copper strategy in Zambia, where the company is seeking to develop and advance assets in one of Africa’s most important copper-producing regions.
The commencement of processing marks an important milestone for the project as the joint venture partners move from exploration and development activities into production and operational optimisation.
Further updates are expected as mining progresses, throughput increases and the plant transitions towards processing a higher proportion of sulphide ore.
