LONDON (ShareCast) - (Sharecast News) - Mineral exploration and development company Kodal Minerals updated the market on the "extensive" metallurgical test work programmes being carried out on mineralisation at the Bougouni Project in southern Mali on Tuesday.
The AIM-traded firm said the test work programmes had been undertaken as part of its feasibility assessment, and would be used to complete the process flowsheet for the proposed mining operation.

It said the test work demonstrated initial processing via a dense media separation (DMS) plant, with a flotation circuit to be added to improve overall recoveries if required.

DMS test work on the Ngoualana Prospect mineralisation returned primary concentrate grades of 6.0% lithium oxide, at recoveries of up to 70%.

A master composite comprising 70% Sogola-Baoulé and 30% Ngoualana, tested initially with the DMS circuit, was followed by downstream flotation test work, which the company improved overall recovery to 75%, producing a 6.0% grade lithium oxide concentrate.

Metallurgical test work would continue on the Boumou mineralisation, the board said, and additional testing on the Sogola-Baoulé mineralisation would define additional coarse grained DMS ore.

"The various metallurgical test works carried out over the project area have highlighted the importance of the coarse grained Ngoualana mineralisation," said chief executive officer Bernard Aylward.

"The identification of this ore type has influenced how we will plan for the development of the Bougouni Lithium Project as now we are aware that we can commence with a low upfront capital cost solution of initial DMS testing, with the deferred addition of a flotation processing circuit to improve recoveries when required.

"We are continuing to advance our Bougouni Project with this metallurgical test work programme being undertaken in conjunction with both the engineering studies to optimise the potential open pit mining operations, as well as the planning of the transport and logistical support for the project."

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