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Podium Minerals (ASX:POD) achieves “world-leading” platinum recoveries at Parks Reef, WA

ASX News, Materials
ASX:POD      MCAP $21.82M
14 March 2023 10:47 (AEST)

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Podium Minerals (POD) has achieved “exciting” new breakthroughs at its Parks Reef platinum group metals (PGM) project in Western Australia.

The company posted “world-leading” platinum recoveries of more than 90 per cent through the use of atmospheric leaching.

“This represents a 30 per cent uplift on previously-stated oxide recoveries and an enormous 50 per cent increase in previous reported platinum recoveries,” Podium Managing Director and CEO Sam Rodda commented.

Podium also posted material improvements for the recoveries of iridium, nickel and cobalt associated with sulphide ore.

Podium has completed 21 leach tests to date, delivering positive results in metal recoveries for both oxide and sulphide material that will unlock further value for the project.

The modification of certain leaching variables, including temperature and oxidative conditions, demonstrated improvements in metal recoveries.

The company now plans to focus primarily on platinum and iridium recoveries.

“Platinum and iridium recoveries will be an important focus for Podium as we look to maximise our ability to support the global hydrogen economy and establish a new Australian critical minerals industry,” Mr Rodda said.

“Platinum and iridium are crucial to the high performance of polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) electrolysers required to create green hydrogen.”

Moving forward, the company aims to further develop Parks Reef by maximising recoveries, reducing capital and optimising operating costs through reagent selection and use.

Shares in POD were up 6.74 per cent and trading at 9.5 cents at 10:38 am AEDT.

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