2014 TECH - FEW INTERESTING POINTSPage 99
After grades were estimated Ni values of blocks falling in the Dunite sub-domain were
reduced by 0.1% under the assumption that this level of Ni was in silicate form and not
recoverable
WEB
Olivine crystals in andesites, basalts, picritic melts, kom- atiites, and mantle peridotite
have Ni contents that range from about 1000 to 5000 ppm
= 0.1% - 0.5%
Nickel Silicate is recoverable.
Requires finer grind to liberate from the crystal structure.
Once liberated it would easily bond to an acid.
What would 0.1% Ni amount to ( 437 million tonnes + 846 million tonnes ) ?
437,000,000 million tonnes
x 0.1% Ni
= 437,000 Ni tonnes
x 2200 lb conversion
= 961,400,000 million lbs ( almost 1 billion pounds )
846,000,000 million t inferred
x 0.1% Ni
= 846,000 tonnes
x 2200 lb conversion
= 1,861,200,000 billion lbs
Absolutely staggaring.
What a simple 0.1% and a bad call can do to a size of resource.
Keep in mind,
2012 assay chart reveals 2 nickels.
The nonmetallic sulphide nickel = Peridotie = 0.40%
Sulphide even higher.
https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/53314406722_f0c05143da_z.jpg
Moral of story ?
Geo tean should not have taken the liberty to reduce silicate grade by, 0.1%.
They should have researched what other miners, such as Aussies do
with silicate nickel. Such as, DNi process.
In this same report ( pages prior ) they knew finer grinding liberates more.
Page 85
With recognition that a sizeable amount of the PGMs, particularly platinum, was not being
captured in the sulphide flotation process because it was finer-grained and associated with
the magnetic minerals magnetite and pyrrhotite, the Wellgreen team and its metallurgical
consultants conducted subsequent testing to evaluate the benefit of adding a magnetic
separation process to the flowsheet.
Magnetic separation is a proven technology utilized in many operating Ni-PGM mines.
The magnetic separation process was successful in capturing additional PGMs,
nickel and copper through regrinding of a modest volume of
magnetic material followed by conventional flotation, particularly in the
Clinopyroxenite/Pyroxenite and Peridotite domains.
This material is then combined with the main sulphide concentrate thus improving overall primary flotation recoveries. In addition, the remaining magnetic material may be amenable to additional secondary processing,
1 - adding magnetic separation - all good.
2 - finer grind, pyroxines, crystalines and peridotite - all good
3 - They have the PGM's out along with magnetite, copper, nickel
Copper, nickel react to acids - plat group is immune
4 - Here is where they should have kept this batch separate
use acid drain the acid with copper, nickel sulfuric acid bonds
= plats are now separate
5 - The big boo boo...?
Dump all the fine grind back into the larger ore mass
more volume for the extraction circuit - harder on flotation.
lots of iron out along with plats = easier for rest of extraction
less acid consumption
6 - Dumping PGM's peridotite finer grind back with main ore mass
= kept PGM's in concentrates = silly move.
= this same silly move repeated throughout future extraction tests.
= fetches very low PGM metal value
Page 86
As a result of the improved understanding of sulphide flotation on the different domains, the
Company conducted additional test work on the lower grade Peridotite domain which had
historically seen much less testing.
These tests confirmed that increased recovery can be achieved in Peridotite following the same general process flowsheet with the use of flocculants, magnetic separation and a slightly finer grind size than the other two domains.
Future Metallurgical Test Work
The Company expects to carry out more detailed metallurgical testing in order to further
refine the process flowsheet, evaluate recoveries based on the sequencing of material from
the mine modelling process, quantify contributions from the rare PGMs and evaluate
secondary processing options that may further improve PGM and base metal recoveries as
part of Pre-feasibility level studies.
Wango -
Any wonder why 2017 mngt class didn't want to use 2014 studies ?
And in 2017 stated can't process, crystalines, solid solution.
And after that announced another 10% resource reduction.
I've never, ever... seen anything like this.
Sum...
2014 tests proved the peridotite and lower grade could be extractable.
Finer grind. Same sulphide extraction and flocculats.
Page 87
2014
measured + indicated resource and.... massive inferred.
If one pulled as much
PGM's and kept separate
Created a sep iron con
Created sep magnesium con
Accounted for 2 nickels
Accounted for exotics
Fine ground the silicates
Kept 2014 resource sizes
= How would Wellgreen rank ?
2014 pdf link -
https://www.wellgreenplatinum.com/pdf/Wellgreen_2014_Resource_Technical_Report.pdf