Hudson Resources Inc. (TSX: V.HUD, Stock Forum) said initial testwork using hydrochloric acid (HCl) has demonstrated the high solubility of the anorthosite material at normal atmospheric pressure and relatively low temperatures at its White Mountain anorthosite project in Greenland.
Hudson's White Mountain anorthosite is relatively unique in that it has high concentrations of aluminum, silica and calcium, with little to no contaminants and low iron.
The White Mountain project is envisioned as an open pit mining operation similar in scope to a quarry.
According to the Hudson Resources press release, Aluminum recoveries ranged from 89.7% to 93.7%. The highest recovery was achieved at a temperature of 110 Celsius and an HCl strength of 30%. The White Mountain anorthosite rock averages approximately 30% aluminum oxide (Al2O3) and 1.25% iron oxide (Fe2O3).
Downstream test work on leach solutions is ongoing and includes aluminum chloride precipitation, alumina production and acid regeneration testing.
Once this test work is completed, Hudson will initiate a scoping study to determine the preliminary economics of producing an alumina product and potential silica and calcium by-products. Test work is expected to be completed in the second quarter.
On Wednesday, Hudson Resources was up 16.67% and was trading at $0.35 a share. The company has a market cap of $28 million, based on 80.2 million shares outstanding. The 52-week high and low was $0.51 and $0.195 respectively.