Emerita Resources Corp. (TSX – V: EMO; OTCQB: EMOTF; FSE: LLJA)
(the “Company” or “Emerita”) is pleased to provide results from its
ongoing metallurgical testing program (the “Program”) for La
Romanera deposit for base and precious metals on its wholly-owned
Iberian Belt West Project (“IBW” or the “Project”). La Romanera and
El Cura deposits are unique in the Iberian pyrite belt in that they
have significantly elevated gold values and it has been a key
objective of the Emerita technical team to develop a process that
will maximize the gold recoveries. A two-stage process has now been
identified that provides excellent recoveries.
- Stage 1: Conventional flotation - a
process to produce 3 sellable concentrates (zinc, lead and copper)
as described in news release dated October 31, 2024.
- Stage 2: Post Flotation Process
(PFP) - a pyrometallurgical process applied to the residual
material after flotation, followed by a leaching process to recover
the remaining gold, silver, copper and zinc. There are several
common thermal technologies available, (roasting was used in this
test) that break down the pyrite and arsenopyrite crystal
structures and allow for leaching and recovery of the gold, silver
and additional base metals. Stage 2 has demonstrated a particularly
positive impact on total estimated gold recoveries for La Romanera
mineralization.
The testing was completed in collaboration with
Wardell Armstrong International in the United Kingdom and with
Dundee Sustainable Technologies Inc. of Quebec, Canada. The PFP
test was carried out on MET-1, a high gold grade sample from La
Romanera deposit. These test results combined with results from the
conventional Stage 1 have yielded excellent overall recoveries (See
Table 1).
Table 1: Two stage metallurgical recoveries
(conventional flotation plus PFP) for La Romanera deposit.
|
Zn%Recovery |
Pb%Recovery |
Cu%Recovery |
Ag%Recovery |
Au%Recovery |
Stage 1 - Flotation |
79.6% |
49.9% |
60.7% |
46.8% |
12.5% |
Stage 2 Post Flotation Process |
11.7% |
-- |
25.1% |
33.7% |
51.8% |
Overall Recovery |
91.3% |
49.9% |
85.8% |
80.5% |
64.3% |
Table 1: experimental results obtained in
post-flotation MET-1
Based on the MET-1 results, a total gold
recovery of 64.3% has been estimated for the entire La Romanera
deposit.
This estimated recovery value is expected to
represent the lower limit of what the PFP could achieve. Testing of
this post flotation process flow sheet will continue as project
engineering accelerates. The results from the PFP recoveries tests
will be included in mineral resource estimates (MRE) and future
economic analysis and will be part of the plant design fine tuning
and expected trade off study analysis.
Figure 1: Stacked bar chart showing the flotation recovery
results for Met-1 from conventional flotation and PFP.
View Figure 1
here: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/8b55b410-3b1d-4c4b-885b-349c12c9f6e8
About the Post Flotation
Process
The Post Flotation Process (PFP) is fed with
material remaining after the selective flotation of base metals to
produce zinc, copper and lead concentrates. The PFP commences with
a conventional, well-established thermal treatment process, in this
case roasting of the material, that eliminates sulfur and
deleterious elements. There are numerous commercial solutions for
this. This feeds into a hydrometallurgical treatment, that includes
the dissolution of the base metals oxidised in the thermal process
with dilute acid followed by hypochlorite brine gold leaching by
CLEVR™ to recover precious metals using a cyanide free process.
The Post Flotation Process offers several
advantages: It allows for the maximization of base metals
recoveries (Zn, Cu) and precious metals recoveries (Au, Ag), while
minimizing waste products. The waste from this process is not acid
generating and is suitable for use as backfill in the mine
significantly reducing the environmental footprint.
CLEVRTM is a non-cyanide leaching gold process
that the Company has been evaluating with Dundee Sustainable
Technologies Inc. A non-cyanide leaching process is a more
environmentally friendly option. Emerita’s vision for the IBW
Project is a mining project that adheres to the highest
environmental standards should it reach a production decision.
Jorge Blanco, Director of Metallurgy for
Emerita, comments, “We are very pleased with the progress using the
CLEVRTM technology. As our testing has progressed, we have
continued to improve on the gold recovery for La Romanera
mineralization to realize our objective of maximizing La Romanera
deposit’s value. In addition, this process would also gather much
of the copper and zinc that was not collected in the initial
flotation process. We are continuing to test other technologies
with the aim of identifying the most efficient and optimal solution
tomaximize the value recovery at La Romanera while minimizing the
overall environmental impact at the IBW Project.”
Petrographic analyses with Laser ICP-MS studies
of IBW’s tailings has shown that 60% of the gold is associated with
arsenopyrite with an average grade of 96 g/t Au in the
arsenopyrite. Arsenopyrite only comprises 2.3% of total tailings
mass. This makes the tailings an attractive target for
metallurgical extraction.
Joaquin Merino, P.Geo., President of Emerita,
comments, “Emerita is exploring the PFP metallurgical process in
order to optimize the value of IBW’s continuously expanding mineral
resources by incorporating environmentally friendly technologies.
The results could significantly derisk the Project and enhance
value as we move forward. We have already begun a second round of
testing, the results of which are expected in Q1, 2025. We are very
encouraged by what we have achieved to date.”
Emerita is continuing tests to optimize the metallurgy for the
IBW Project with the following work programs in progress:
- Optimized gold
recovery; As part of ongoing project engineering,
additional composite samples are being tested to fully understand
metal recoveries across the grade ranges of La Romanera and El Cura
and to fully optimize the process.
- Pyrite-Arsenopyrite
separation tests; because most of the gold is associated
with the arsenopyrite fraction of the sulphides, Emerita has been
exploring separating arsenopyrite from pyrite to produce an
arsenopyrite concentrate. Results expected end-Q1 2025.
- Cleaning Zinc and Copper
concentrates; “cleaning” tests to remove elements such as
As, Sb and Hg from the Cu and Zn concentrates are in progress to
enhance the value. Two methods are being explored; sulphate
leaching, and alkaline leaching. Sulfate leaching test results are
expected by the end of December 2024 and alkaline leaching test
results are expected in February 2025.
Following completion of this work, Emerita will
define the flow sheet for optimal treatment of gold-rich
mineralization comprising the IBW project.
Emerita's metallurgical testing has been
conducted under the guidance of Jorge Blanco, Emerita’s Director of
Metallurgy, in collaboration with Wardell Armstrong International
for the flotation testing, and with Dundee Sustainable Technologies
Inc. out of Quebec, Canada for the CLEVRTM testing.
In addition to the work reported above, a
representative sample from the Company’s El Cura deposit has been
sent to Wardell Armstrong to commence metallurgical testing to
determine the base and precious metal recoveries for this deposit.
El Cura was not included in the Company’s NI 43-101 Mineral
Resource Estimate (“MRE”) for the IBW Project (effective May 4,
2023; see Company’s press release dated May 23, 2023). The Company
expects to publish an updated MRE in Q1 2025 which will reflect the
ongoing successful drill results for El Cura.
Qualified Person
Scientific and technical information in this
news release has been reviewed and approved by each of Joaquin
Merino, P.Geo., President of the Company and. Jorge Blanco, MChem.,
Director of Metallurgy of the Company and each a Qualified Person
as defined by NI 43-101.
About Emerita Resources Corp.
Emerita is a natural resource company engaged in the
acquisition, exploration, and development of mineral properties in
Europe, with a primary focus on exploring in Spain. The Company’s
corporate office and technical team are based in Sevilla, Spain
with an administrative office in Toronto, Canada
For further information, contact:
Ian Parkinson+1 647 910-2500
(Toronto)info@emeritaresources.comwww.emeritaresources.com
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-looking
Information
This press release contains “forward-looking
information” within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities
legislation. Forward-looking information includes, without
limitation, statements regarding the prospectivity of the IBW
Project, metallurgical results and the timing thereof, the
mineralization and the IBW Project, the economic viability of the
IBW project, the Company’s ability to establish a mineral resource
estimate at El Cura, the Company’s future exploration plans and the
Company’s future plans. Generally, forward-looking information can
be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as
“plans”, “expects” or “does not expect”, “is expected”, “budget”,
“scheduled”, “estimates”, “forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates” or
“does not anticipate”, or “believes”, or variations of such words
and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results “may”,
“could”, “would”, “might” or “will be taken”, “occur” or “be
achieved”. Forward- looking information is subject to known and
unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the
actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of
Emerita, as the case may be, to be materially different from those
expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including
but not limited to: general business, economic, competitive,
geopolitical and social uncertainties; the actual results of
current exploration activities; risks associated with operation in
foreign jurisdictions; ability to successfully integrate the
purchased properties; foreign operations risks; and other risks
inherent in the mining industry. Although Emerita has attempted to
identify important factors that could cause actual results to
differ materially from those contained in forward-looking
information, there may be other factors that cause results not to
be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance
that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results
and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in
such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue
reliance on forward-looking information. Emerita does not undertake
to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance
with applicable securities laws.
NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION
SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE
TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR
ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.
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