What's Happening?
Nova Minerals has reported successful bench-scale flotation testing on its Korbel deposit, achieving gold recoveries exceeding 95% and producing concentrates up to 26.70 grams per tonne gold. The company highlights that these results could significantly
improve the project's economics, particularly with 'low-grade' ore showing a strong flotation response at grind sizes of 250 micrometres or finer. Testing on composite samples averaging 0.39–0.42 g/t gold resulted in concentrate grades ranging from 14.70–26.70 g/t gold, with mass pulls of only 2%–3%, indicating a 97%–98% reduction in volume for downstream processing. This development is part of Nova's ongoing Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) level metallurgical testwork program, aimed at enhancing the economic viability of its 1,040-million-tonne Korbel resource.
Why It's Important?
The successful flotation tests are crucial for Nova Minerals as they promise to enhance the economic feasibility of the Korbel deposit by improving gold recovery from lower-grade materials. This could lead to more efficient processing and reduced costs, making the project more attractive to investors and stakeholders. The ability to profitably recover gold from lower-grade ore could significantly impact the company's bottom line and potentially increase its market valuation. Additionally, these advancements may set a precedent for similar projects, influencing industry standards and practices in gold recovery and processing.
What's Next?
Nova Minerals plans to continue its Pre-Feasibility Study with further Korbel CIL testwork and coarse particle flotation studies to refine the flowsheet and optimize plant design. These efforts aim to maximize gold recovery and improve processing efficiency. The company will likely focus on scaling these results to full production levels, which could involve additional testing and potential adjustments to their operational strategies. Stakeholders and investors will be closely monitoring these developments, as successful implementation could lead to increased production capacity and profitability.
