Preliminary Metallurgical Testwork Indicates Excellent Recoveries

"These test results represent a great step forward for the Palma Project. Metallurgy for VMS style projects is vital and we are really pleased with the initial results. There is a lot of work still to go with the testing, however with the locked cycle tests underway, we are confident the numbers can be confirmed shortly and enhanced. “We are also extremely conscious of our sustainable mining responsibilities and are considering various options for processing. It was under this framework that we also initiated a study into converting the sulphur rich tails into sulphuric acid. We understand the tails will naturally generate acid and that potential environmental issue will need mitigation.

“The desktop study completed by our consultants has confirmed that by floating the sulphur rich minerals in the tails and passing through a separate process route, we can not only generate commercial sulphuric acid (which is sought after in the region and globally), but iron ore and more importantly, energy to power a portion of the plant. Alvo will look to incorporate the potential processing options as a key part of our ESG framework.”

Metallurgical testwork and Results

Alvo prepared and sent over 315kg of diamond core in 202 individual samples from the C3 prospect in Central Brazil to Auralia Metallurgy (a specialist in minerals flotation) in Perth, Australia. The samples were selected and received under the supervision of BHM Process Consultants (“BHM”), specialists in Metallurgical testwork management and supervision.

The samples were received and logged, composited and the preparation of a master composite was completed. The master composite was selected to approximately match the overall expected grade of the C3 VMS mineralised zone. The sample was initially tested with a 2-stage rougher flotation at P80 125μm, 106μm and 75μm and the results analysed for future work.

The finest of the rougher tests (P80 at 75μm) was chosen for single-pass Rougher and Cleaner stage Flotation tests as illustrated in the testwork flowsheet in Figure 1. The various samples were sent to the Nagrom independent laboratory for assaying. Results were received from these tests are reported below in Table 1.