WAI Resources (ASX: $WAI) announces successful niobium flotation testwork at Luni

WAI Resources Ltd (ASX: $WAI) has reported successful results from the initial metallurgical testwork program undertaken on niobium mineralisation from Luni at the 100% owned West Arunta Project in Western Australia. The testwork demonstrated excellent flotation results, producing a high-grade niobium concentrate with low impurities and industry comparable recovery rates using a conventional two-stage flotation regime.

Executive Commentary on Successful Testwork Results

Our first beneficiation testwork program has produced high-grade niobium concentrates with low impurities and at industry-comparable recovery rates through a practical two-stage flotation regime. We consider this an excellent outcome towards unlocking the significant inherent strategic value of Luni. Flotation of niobium minerals is widely recognised as the key challenge to developing a conventional process flowsheet for a niobium deposit. This is because flotation typically provides most of the upgrade from ore to concentrate and incurs a majority of the recovery losses. Our testwork is currently optimising this regime, with clear potential for improvement through the comminution, classification, and flotation steps. Other beneficiation techniques such as gravity and magnetic separation are also being assessed. For the remainder of this year, one of our key drilling and testwork objectives is to demonstrate a sufficient quantity of ore can be floated from the Luni deposit to support detailed mine planning and economic evaluation.

Summary of Successful Testwork and Future Plans

WAI Resources Ltd (ASX: $WAI) has successfully demonstrated the potential for high-grade niobium concentrate production with low impurities and strong recovery characteristics through the initial metallurgical testwork at Luni. The company aims to optimize the beneficiation stage, including testing other process steps used at existing niobium operations, before moving to variability testing across Luni. The results from the testwork program provide confidence in the ability to produce high-quality end-products in future testwork programs. The company plans to further investigate areas for potential optimization, including comminution, classification, flotation stages, and the use of other beneficiation techniques. Ongoing parallel testwork programs at other laboratories will assist in developing alternative beneficiation options and flowsheet development. Drilling is ongoing at Luni to collect additional samples for further metallurgical testwork programs, with a focus on flowsheet development to support initial mine planning and economic evaluation.