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- AVZ Minerals (AVZ) has received positive tin and tantalum recovery test work results from the Manono Lithium and Tin Project in the Democratic Republic of Congo
- Magnetic separation was used to remove iron and a preliminary assessment of tantalum could then be achieved
- However, this process did not recover significant separated tantalum to warrant any recordings
- To determine tin readings, initial test work was completed on six samples from the Manono alluvial fields to determine mineral and metal content
- Tin grades ranged from 29.5 per cent to 71.5 per cent tin oxide, averaging 53.4 per cent tin oxide
- Further work will need to be done to optimise the tin and tantalum recoveries and determine the most effective recovery route for both minerals
- AVZ is up 6.67 per cent on the market today with shares trading for 4.8 cents apiece
AVZ Minerals (AVZ) has received positive tin and tantalum recovery test work results from the Manono Lithium and Tin Project.
The Manono Project is located 500 kilometres north of Lubumbashi in the Democratic Republic of Congo and covers an area of 188 square kilometres.
It lies within the mid-Proterozoic Kibaran Belt which stretches for over 1000 kilometres through Katanga and into southwest Uganda.
Tantalum
The study of tin and tantalum was conducted on the concentrates produced by the DMS (dense media separation) test program.
DMS is the standard laboratory process used for separating minerals of different specific gravity. In this assessment, heavier minerals sink, while the lighter ones float.
The heavy mineral recovery test program involved the re-treatment of the DMS concentrates from the Phase 2 – DMS250 test program to separate the spodumene concentrate from the heavier minerals, including tin and tantalum.
Magnetic separation was then used to remove iron and a preliminary assessment of tantalum could be achieved.
However, this process did not recover significant separated tantalum to warrant AVZ recording it.
The company believes that there may be a discharge problem at the more coarse sizes of tantalum.
Further work will need to be done to explore alternative economic concentrate options.
Tin
Initial preliminary test work was completed on six composite samples from the Manono alluvial fields to determine mineral and metal contents and understand the potential economic viability of the project.
The six samples, weighing 50 kilograms, were submitted to Nagrom laboratories of Perth for assessment and analytical determination.
All samples were analysed via ICP (inductively coupled plasma), XRP (X-ray fluorescence) and ISE (ion-selective electrode) for lithium oxide, iron oxide, tin oxide, and aluminium oxide – amongst many others.
Results have shown that the concentrate produced at Manono is rich in tin in the form of cassiterite (tin oxide mineral) and other potential economic minerals.
Tin grades from the six samples ranged from 29.5 per cent to 71.5 per cent tin oxide. The average grade was around 53.4 per cent tin oxide.
Given the initial positive nature of these results and possible economic benefit to AVZ, further test work has been organised which will include separating out the tin from other minerals.
From these results, it is expected that a work program will be implemented to assess the nature of the alluvial fields within Manono and possibly placing them into production at some stage in the future.
“A 50-kilogram composite sample collected from across the site confirms tin values ranging from 29.5 per cent to 71.5 per cent cassiterite,” Managing Director Nigel Ferguson said.
“This confirms historical reports by independent geological consultants, Behre Dolbear, of a significant alluvial tin field at Manono and it appears at least initially, that this material may also be economically recovered by working toggling with the community to maximise returns,” he added.
Further work will need to be done to optimise the tin and tantalum recoveries and determine the most effective recovery route for both minerals.
AVZ is up 6.67 per cent on the market today with shares trading for 4.8 cents each at 12:18 pm AEDT.
