AVZ Minerals Shares Tin and Tantalum Recoveries from Manono

AVZ Minerals (ASX:AVZ) announced preliminary tin and tantalum recoveries following the release of flotation test work results at its Manono lithium and tin project in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Highlights from the release are as follows:

Total tin recovery of 63%, from combined coarse plus fine fractions, at a grade of 64.1% (SnO2)

• Tin and tantalum is well liberated and easily recoverable from the -0.5mm HPGR undersize material

• Six initial broad spaced, non-representative, alluvial tin and tantalum samples produced exciting upside potential with assay values ranging from 29.5% to 71.5% SnO2 (as Cassiterite) and from 2.14% to 4.18% Ta2O5 (as Coltan) reported

Nigel Ferguson, managing director of AVZ, commented:

As part of the recent flotation test programme, we now have initial recovery figures for the tin and tantalum from the undersize, -0.5mm fraction, that can be compared for the first time to the dense media recoveries for these metals from the Phase 2 metallurgical programme. This has allowed us to complete a mass balance for the heavy mineral fractions for the first time. The overall tin and tantalum recovery is 63% but having only been able to split the coltan from the cassiterite in the finer fraction sizes at this time, further work is required, potentially including the use of an on-site smelter to produce metal ingots for both security purposes and ease of transport to market.

The tin grades are however, above 60% in both size ranges and are highly saleable products which could potentially contribute to reducing overall operating costs and to supply a significant and growing demand from the electronics market. AVZ is currently in discussions with several potential off take partners in this field.

Click here to read the full AVZ Minerals (ASX:AVZ) press release.