WORLD NEWS ETHIOPIA Akobo Minerals complete Segele scoping study
A
fter 10 years of exploration work, culminating in a JORC compliant maiden resource estimate earlier this year, followed by the recent grant of a large scale gold mining license, Akobo Minerals has released its scoping study for the Segele deposit. The results are encouraging and exceed previous expectations. The scoping study indicates what the potential economics of mining the Segele deposit can look like. The study has been completed with contributions from respected geologists, engineers, and environmental, social, and governance practitioners (SRK Consulting, Sazani Associates, Goshawk Network Technologies and Borrego Sun). The result confirms that the mineralisation at Segele can be mined and processed with an estimated AISC of US$243/oz, while the total life of mine operational expenditure, excluding royalties, is estimated at US$137/oz. Total capital expenditure for setting up the mine plant to start production is estimated at US$8 million, equalling an average of US$153/oz for the current resource estimate of 52.410 oz. This average will go down as more resources are added over time. Akobo Minerals is planning to mine the gold mineralisation using methods such as shrinkage stoping or similar. These rocks will be brought to surface using an incline shaft that will take 11 months to build. At peak production, just under 6000 tpm of rock will be mined and this material will be passed into an industry standard crushing and gravity circuit, with cyanidation
where necessary. The company plans to purchase a plant capable of processing 20 tph, but initially operated at 10 tph to allow for expansion. The plant is expected to extract 90% of all gold in the mineralisation, but this will be confirmed by the ongoing metallurgical testwork. The scoping study has focused only on the mineralisation covered in the SRK mineral resource estimate, allowing for an anticipated mine life of 27 months. Ongoing exploration has identified additional mineralisation at depth, which leaves open the opportunity to extend the mine’s life. As with all anticipated underground mining operations, not all ore can be mined or exploited and as such, the scoping study estimates an extraction percentage 81%; the grade will be diluted by 5% and ore loss is expected to be 8%. These figures are in-line with or better than industry standards. A sustainable natural resources management plan is planned alongside mining. Such a plan may allow the company to contribute to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The scoping study is the first phase in the process of developing a business plan for mining at Segele and has an accuracy of between 30 – 50%. Akobo Minerals has already begun a prefeasibility study, which typically has an accuracy of +/- 25%. The prefeasibility study will involve a resource upgrade, selection of mining method and detailed plant design. It also allows for the publication of cash flow models and ore reserves.
SPAIN Weir Minerals signs purchase contract for Highfield Resources’ Muga Mine
H
ighfield Resources has announced the signing of a purchase contract with Weir Minerals for important components of a process plant, in order to finalise the pre-construction activities at its flagship Muga Potash Mine. Following a recent AUS$18.1 million capital raise, the company is well funded to finalise the purchase contracts of the remaining long-lead items. With the signing of this purchase contract, 85% of the planned equipment needed for the plant has now been contracted. The remaining 15%, which includes cross-flow separators, dryers, thickeners and flotation columns, is expected to be formalised soon. The remaining equipment, mainly mining equipment, will be acquired prior
to start of operations. Completion of the procurement of the process plant equipment is key for allowing improvements in the detailed engineering design of the plant, with the design of the specific equipment used. In addition, it allows Highfield to cover the long lead manufacturing times of this type of equipment. Weir Minerals is providing both primary and secondary concentrate screens, which will be used for the granulometric separation in the initial phase of the crushing, grinding, and desliming processes. The hydrocyclones from Weir will be used to remove the fine particles from the slurry (known as desliming) prior to flotation. GLOBal mining review // October 2021
5
