The Market Online - At The Bell

Join our daily newsletter At The Bell to receive exclusive market insights

  • A-Cap Energy (ACB) begins diamond drilling at its Letlhakane project in Botswana
  • The aim of the 1500 metre program is to collect up two tonnes of uranium mineralisation for a detailed beneficiation study
  • The study is already underway, as is leaching and metallurgical test-work comprising mineralogy and ore characterisation to supplement the program
  • MD Dr Andrew Tunks says advances in sorting technology were a “game-changer” and the team is confident it can improve the project’s economics significantly
  • ACB shares last traded at 8.7 cents on January 18

A-Cap Energy (ACB) has begun diamond drilling at its Letlhakane project in Botswana.

The aim of the 1500 metre program is to collect up two tonnes of uranium mineralisation for a detailed beneficiation study.

The study is already underway, as is leaching and metallurgical test-work comprising mineralogy and ore characterisation to supplement the program.

A-Cap has engaged technical partners with expertise in uranium ore sorting and processing that specialise in increasing the ore feed grade to the mill, as well as removing acid consuming gangue.

An updated study would follow on from a 2010 beneficiation program which delivered a 1.5 times uranium upgrade using radiometric sorting, but was not incorporated into the 2015 feasibility study.

Acid consumption is a major operating cost in the proposed process route set out in the project’s 2016 feasibility study. As such, the company is looking to optimise the resource to minimise acid consumption and drive down costs.

In this vein, A-Cap’s Managing Director Dr Andrew Tunks said advances in sorting technology were a “game-changer” for the project and the team is confident it can improve the project’s economics significantly.

Drilling of the 25 holes is expected to take up to eight weeks to complete.

ACB shares last traded at 8.7 cents on January 18.

ACB by the numbers
More From The Market Online
The Market Online Video

Market Close: ASX200 takes a slide into the weekend

The ASX200 shed 0.85% today – with every sector – except materials, losing ground. IT stocks…

Week 20 Wrap: EU-to-China cargoes up 12% YTD; US CPI tame

US inflation was the biggest data drop of the week; Anglo American is restructuring to fend…
The Market Online Video

Market Update: ASX dips with only materials afloat

The ASX is down nearly half a per cent - on par with future's predictions -…

Patagonia grows portfolio of REE and lithium-focused territory with exploration grants

Patagonia Lithium Ltd has been granted an additional 15 exploration licences in Argentina where it is…