A 3D rendering of Niobium ingots in the background with a metallic Nb symbol
Adobe Stock
The Market Online - At The Bell

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

WA1 Resources Ltd (ASX:WA1) has reported that according to recent metallurgical test work, a high-grade niobium concentrate with recoveries of up to 62 percent can be yielded from its Luni target – part of the company’s landmark West Arunta project in Western Australia.

And the market – pleased by the result from this mineralised carbonatite system-based project which has been described as ‘the first of its kind’ – reacted positively to the news, sending the company’s share price up 23.20 percent: sitting at $19.97 by 13:03 AEST.

WA1 carried out initial metallurgical work on sample material from a drillhole northeast of Luni, using a two-stage flotation process, producing an industry-comparable, high-grade concentrate which was also low in impurities.

An open cycle float test picked up concentrate results of 51 percent niobium pentoxide (Nb2O5) at 62 percent recovery (second cleaner), while open cycle concentrate (fourth cleaner) yielded 61 percent Nb2O5 at 52 percent recovery, and a locked cycle concentrate (fifth cleaner) was at 58 percent Nb2O5 at 53 percent recovery.

WA1 intends to continue testing to optimise the beneficiation stage, trying out other process steps used at existing niobium operations, before moving to variability testing across the Luni target area.

Managing director, Paul Savich said the results indicated that processing of this ore could be fairly straightforward.

“Our first beneficiation testwork program has produced high-grade niobium concentrates with low impurities and at industry-comparable recovery rates through a practical two stage
flotation regime,” he said.

“We consider this an excellent outcome towards unlocking the significant inherent strategic value of Luni.

“Flotation of niobium minerals is widely recognised as the key challenge to developing a
conventional process flowsheet for a niobium deposit: this is because flotation typically provides most of the upgrade from ore to concentrate and incurs a majority of the recovery losses.

“Our testwork is currently optimising this regime, with clear potential for improvement through the comminution, classification and flotation steps. Other beneficiation techniques such as gravity and magnetic separation are also being assessed.”

WA1 by the numbers
More From The Market Online
The Market Online Video

ASX Market Close: Bourse finishes week on a high as Wisetech pummeled | November 22, 2024

The ASX200 closed up 0.85% at 8,393 points. Economists increasingly expect interest rates in Australia won’t…
The Market Online Video

HotCopper Highlights: Your most watched stocks for Week 47, 2024

In this segment we’ll look at the top stocks HotCopper users have been watching, and discussing,…
Nuclear explosion mushroom cloud concept

Week 47 Wrap: HotCopper users’ most watched; Brent lifts on Putin’s scary letter; RFK dents CSL

Welcome to the end of another week. Let's start with what HotCopper users have been watching…
Dale Gillham's photo, and wording 'Words from Wealth Within's Chief Analyst Dale Gillham.

Dale Gillham’s weekly wrap: Sigma-Chemist Warehouse merger creates pharma powerhouse

The $8.8 billion dollar merger between Sigma Healthcare and Chemist Warehouse is poised to reshape the Australian pharmacy landscape, consolidating power in th…