14 May 2024
THIS
ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDER INFORMATION
Pensana
Plc
("Pensana"
or the "Company")
Encouraging
Sulima West Beneficiation Test Work Results
Pensana
(PRE) is pleased to provide an update on the beneficiation test
work on samples from the Sulima West deposit on the Coola
exploration licence located 75 kilometres north of
Longonjo.
The test
work is being undertaken to determine whether the mineralogy at
Sulima West is amenable to simple upgrading onsite, prior to
transporting to Longonjo for further processing.
The
initial results on the samples tested are very encouraging. Both
samples tested show the potential for separation and upgrading to a
high-grade concentrate using simple magnetic and gravity
processes.
Once the
test work has been finalised a drill programme will be undertaken
to delineate the extent of the near surface mineralisation over the
six-hectare target area at Sulima West.
Highlights
include:
·
The
composite laterite sample graded 8.4% TREO (total rare earth oxide)
with 80% comprising magnetic iron and manganese oxides and 10% REE
(rare earth element) rich monazite.
·
Magnetic
and gravity separation test work has been commissioned with the
target of producing a 50% TREO concentrate suitable for treatment
at Longonjo.
·
The
apatite-maghemite sample graded 22% P2O5 (phosphate) and was
upgraded to 42.6% P2O5 using magnetic separation. Test work has
been commissioned with the aim of producing a commercially saleable
>40% phosphate concentrate.
Grant Hayward, Exploration Manager
commented: "'These
early results indicate the potential for low-cost physical
beneficiation of the Sulima West ore at site, feeding the Longonjo
processing plant with a high-grade rare earth
concentrate."
Sulima West Laterite
The Sulima
West REE enriched laterite covers an area of approximately 6
hectares and has a surface expression defined by a strong soil
anomaly grading >3% TREO. The laterite has been sampled in four
trenches and numerous pits of 4-6 metres deep, with all the pits
ending in mineralisation.
Delineation
drilling is required to fully evaluate the dimensions of the
laterite and will be undertaken based on the outcome of
beneficiation test work.
In late
2023, a 100-kilogram laterite sample was extracted from the wall of
Trench 1 over a width of 7 metres and bagged and freighted to Blu
Sky Mining laboratory in Pretoria, South
Africa for test work.
The entire
100-kilogram laterite sample was homogenised and
ground to 100% passing 3.35 mm and 35-kilogram split off and stage
ground to 80% passing 150
µm. Samples were screened into six size ranges, analysed for major
and trace elements, and PSD plots compiled. Three different size
fractions were submitted for QEMSCAN analysis.
The head grade of the laterite is 8.4% TREO, and the sample
comprises 80%
goethite (iron oxide), psilomelane (manganese oxide) and other
oxides, which are all importantly paramagnetic. 10% of the sample
comprises monazite
which is large and well liberated.
The monazite shows very little association with the
goethite or psilomelane .
Other rare earth minerals identified are bastnaesite and florencite
and gangue minerals including fluorite, variscite and minor
quartz.
Further ongoing test work commissioned involves magnetic separation
to remove the paramagnetic minerals to the magnetic fraction and
then subject the non-magnetic fraction containing the non-magnetic
minerals (REE's, fluorite, variscite, quartz, etc.) to further
gravity test work to upgrade and recover the monazite and
bastnaesite with the aim of achieving a 50% TREO concentrate
grade.
The liberation of the monazite appears sufficient to continue with
the current grind. This
REE concentrate will then be subject to bench scale test work to
see how it responds to the Longonjo flotation and hydrometallurgy
regime.
Sulima West
Apatite-Maghemite
The Sulima West apatite-maghemite (phosphate) sample was sourced
from an isolated, outcropping hill of this rock type, immediately
to the northwest of laterite area. The outcrop has a surface area
of approximately 500
m2
and has been exposed in two 5-6 metre, deep pits.
A 100-kilogram sample of this outcropping phosphate rock type was
bagged and freighted to South
Africa for beneficiation test work. The entire sample was
homogenised and ground to 100% passing 3.35 mm and three grind
sizes were considered, 80% passing 1 mm, 80% passing 850 µm and 80%
passing 500 µm. The sample head grade is 21%
P2O5.
The sample comprises essentially Fe oxides (55%) and apatite (42%)
with minor rutile/ilmenite (2%).
Two beneficiation processes were considered, namely gravity
(shaking table) and magnetic separation (Carpco).
Gravity separation was not efficient to achieve a saleable P2O5
grade. Magnetic separation achieved a >38% P2O5 grade at a good
mass yield. 80% passing 500 µm achieved the highest mass yield and
grade after magnetic separation, achieving a grade of 42.6% P2O5
and 34% mass yield. The La and Nd upgraded to the phosphate
concentrate.
Further ongoing test work commissioned involves milling a
50-kilogram sample to 80% passing 500 µm and conducting WHIMS (wet
high intensity magnetic separation) test work to the milled sample
to get a >38% P2O5 concentrate at maximum yield. In addition, a
10-kilogram sample of apatite concentrate will be produced for
further mineralogical studies and for marketing
purposes.
For
further details please go to
https://pensana.co.uk/coola-exploration-project/ on the Pensana
website.
The
information contained within this announcement is considered by the
Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under the
Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No.596/2014. Upon the publication of
this announcement via a Regulatory Information Service, this inside
information will be considered to be in the public domain. The
person responsible for arranging for the release of this
announcement on behalf of the Company is
Paul Atherley,
Chairman.
-
ENDS
-
For
further information, please contact:
Shareholder/analyst
enquiries:
Pensana
Plc
Paul Atherley, Chairman IR@pensana.co.uk
Tim George, Chief Executive Officer
Rob Kaplan, Chief Financial Officer