Results of Dense Medium Separation Test Work

RNS Number : 3215S

AfriTin Mining Ltd

25 June 2018

 

25 June 2018

AfriTin Mining Limited

("AfriTin" or the "Company")

Results of Dense Medium Separation Test Work

AfriTin Mining Limited (AIM: ATM), a mining company with a portfolio of tin assets in Namibia and South Africa, with the flagship near production asset being the Uis Tin Mine in Namibia, is pleased to provide the following update on the Uis tin mine:

The Company has completed additional Dense Medium Separation (DMS) test work for the upgraded phase 1 processing plant due to be operational during Q4 of 2018.  Test work has been conducted by PESCO, a DMS (WJO) expert in South Africa, on a bulk sample of 2 tonnes which is a potentially representative sample of the V1, V2 pegmatite bodies. These pits were previously identified by AfriTin as priority targets to supply feed to the upgraded processing plant at Uis.

Highlights:

•      >85% stage-1 tin recoveries in 2.66 and 2.62 g/cm³ cut densities

•      Up to 91% recoveries in second-stage separation (at a cut density of 2.9 g/cm³)

•      >60% SnO² grade in the final concentrate following removal of muscovite (a potential by-product)

These initial results confirm the beneficiation potential of the Uis pegmatites to produce a high-grade tin concentrate from a coarse run-of-mine feed. Further test work and alternatives are ongoing to potentially enhance these results and to further prove the beneficiation capability of the fine fraction arising through the crushing of the ore.

Anthony Viljoen, CEO of AfriTin Mining, said: "The excellent recoveries achieved in this bulk test work highlight the potential of concentrating mined material, to produce the output of tin concentrate from a significant tin and multi commodity deposit outlined at IPO. The completion of this test work has been a key element of the final design for our phase 1 processing plant at the historic Uis mine and bodes well for the expansion during Phase 2 of the project which envisages a full-scale production facility of 3 million tonnes of ore per annum. The company remains on target for the production of first tin concentrate during Q4 2018."

Summarised Results of Test Work Performed

The principle of Dense Medium Separation is to separate minerals based on their density. It is achieved by mixing the ore with a heavy medium of known density. The minerals with a density lower than the medium will float whereas minerals with a higher density than the medium will sink. The sinking and floating materials are collected separately, as high density (sinks) and low density (floats) streams.

A two-stage DMS separation test circuit was implemented as follows:

•              Stage 1: A pre-concentrating stage to maximize cassiterite recovery while effectively reducing mass for downstream processes. The relative densities tested ranged from 2.62 to 2,74 g/cm³.

•              Stage 2: A concentrating stage to increase the product's tin grade. Concentration was carried out on stage 1 concentrate material at 3 individual densities, these being 2,9 g/cm³, 3,0 g/cm3 and 3,1 g/cm³.  

 Results from the Stage 1 test work is summarized below:

Cut Density (g/cm3)	Mass recovery (%)	Feed calculated Tin Grade (%)	Floats Tin Grade (%)	Sinks Tin Grade (%)	Sinks Tin recovery (%)
2,74	4,52	0,46	0,20	5,97	58,4
2,70	6,52	0,54	0,18	5,67	68,4
2,66	15,90	0,55	0,08	2,96	87,1
2,62	28,23	0,56	0,08	1,71	89,5

The results obtained from the stage 1 test work indicate that the anticipated run of mine material behaves very well for pre-concentrating the material through the DMS circuit. The results indicate that the plant will be able to achieve an 80% mass reduction of mine material whilst retaining 90% of the tin.  This allows for lower capital costs in a smaller back end to the primary circuit.

Based on the successful results of the stage 1 test work, a pre-concentration step was conducted at a density of 2.65 g/cm³, followed by a series of tests to investigate the density at which to conduct the second stage DMS operation.

Results from the Stage 2 test work can be summarized below:

Product ID	Mass recovery (%)	Tin Grade (%)	Tin recovery (%)
2,9 Sink	19,57	4,06	91,00
3,0 Sink	7,26	8,85	82,95
3,1 Sink	2,62	23,29	71,25

The results of phase 2 further indicate that DMS is able to generate a higher-grade concentrate in the 6.5m fraction, with further test work currently underway to confirm the optimal liberation size and separation density for this stage.

The bulk of the gangue material that reported to the product at a separation density of 3.1 g/cm³ is muscovite. Following the removal of this muscovite (which is being investigated as a potential by-product), a final concentrate grade in excess of 60% is produced in the coarse fraction.

Enquiries:

AfriTin Limited
Anthony Viljoen (CEO)	[phone]
Nominated Adviser and Joint Broker
WH Ireland Limited Katy Mitchell Adrian Hadden James Sinclair-Ford	[phone]
Joint Broker
NOVUM Securities Limited Jon Belliss	[phone]
Financial PR (United Kingdom)
Tavistock
Jos Simson / Barney Hayward	[phone]
Financial PR (South Africa)
Lifa Communications Cath Drummond / Gabriella von Ille	[phone]

Notes to editors

AfriTin Mining is the first pure tin company listed in London and its vision is to create a portfolio of world-class, conflict-free, tin producing assets. The Company's flagship asset is the Uis brownfield tin mine in Namibia, formerly the world's largest hard-rock tin mine.

AfriTin is managed by an experienced board of directors and management team with a current two-fold strategy: fast track Uis brownfield tin mine in Namibia to commercial production in 2018 ramping up to 5,000 tonnes of concentrate, and consolidation of other quality African tin assets. The Company strives to capitalise on the solid supply/demand fundamentals of tin by developing a critical mass of tin resource inventory, achieving production in the near term and further scaling production by consolidating tin assets in Africa.

 

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