Sunshine Metals Limited (ASX: SHN) is pleased to report exceptional preliminary metallurgical test results from its Liontown project, part of the broader Ravenswood Consolidated Project. These results highlight significant improvements in the extraction and recovery rates for gold and copper, underscoring the potential of the Liontown Footwall.
Highlights from the Metallurgical Test Work:
Gold recovery has seen remarkable improvements, with rates up to 97.4% achieved through conventional cyanide leaching at a grind size of 106µm. An even higher recovery rate of 99.4% was achieved with a finer grind size of 38µm, tailored to the specifications of the nearby Pajingo Gold Operation.
In tests focusing on copper, a recovery rate of 95.2% was achieved, producing a concentrate with a copper grade of 13% and an associated gold grade of 55.1 g/t at the Cleaner 1 & 2 stages. Additional leaching of the rougher tails further improved gold recovery rates to 92.6%.
These results significantly surpass historical metallurgical outcomes where only 65% recovery for gold was previously achieved, demonstrating advancements in Sunshine Metals' processing capabilities.
Comments from Sunshine Metals' Leadership:
Dr. Damien Keys, Managing Director of Sunshine Metals, emphasized the strategic importance of these results: "The impressive outcomes from the recent test work not only underline the robustness of the Liontown Footwall's gold-copper rich zones but also bolster our confidence in the upcoming scoping study scheduled for 2025. These promising results lay the groundwork for the resource update planned in December 2024."
Future Prospects:
With these encouraging results, Sunshine Metals looks forward to continuing its rigorous metallurgical testing. The data derived from ongoing tests will be integral to the upcoming resource update and will play a vital role in refining process strategies and enhancing overall project economics.
