Minco plc (LSE:MIO) announced that it has finished a bench-scale test program that has defined a hydrometallurgical process for its New Brunswick-based Plymouth manganese deposit.

Minco plc (LSE:MIO) announced that it has finished a bench-scale test program that has defined a hydrometallurgical process for its New Brunswick-based Plymouth manganese deposit. In addition, the company has produced commercial-grade electrolytic manganese metal containing from 99.71 to 99.75 percent manganese.

As quoted in the press release:

Completion of the process development program has defined a viable technology for hydrometallurgical processing of the Plymouth deposit that employs high gradient magnetic separation, leaching, solution purification, electrowinning and waste management.
The successful definition of the hydrometallurgical process and the test production of commercial grade electrolytic manganese metal allow Minco to complete a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) of its Woodstock manganese project. Contracts for completion of the PEA have been jointly awarded to independent consultants Tetra Tech ofToronto and Thibault and Associates of Fredericton. The PEA is anticipated to be completed during the second quarter of 2014.

John Kearney, Minco’s chairman, commented:

We are very pleased to have completed this positive bench scale test program indicating that the proposed hydrometallurgical process for production of high-purity electrolytic manganese metal is technically viable.

Click here to read the full Minco plc (LSE:MIO) press release.