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- Acid leach testwork underway at ANSTO to assess scandium extraction
- Demonstrated sulphuric acid is effective for scandium leaching
- Results indicate potential to extract constant amount of scandium
- Significantly limiting aluminium dissolution through shorter leach times
West Cobar Metals (ASX: WC1) has obtained positive leach testing results from a program focused on scandium at the Salazar critical minerals project in WA.
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The company has commenced a significant metallurgical testwork program with ANSTO to evaluate sulphuric acid leaching of Salazar scandium mineralisation.
Previous testwork, indicates that sulphuric acid is effective in extracting scandium from the Salazar material tested.
Early time-based observations from current works also suggest that scandium leaching reaches a relative plateau after approximately six hours under the conditions assessed. This may indicate an opportunity to limit extended leach residence times, subject to confirmation through the broader test program.
The ANSTO program will now examine the effect of leach conditions and feed size on scandium extraction, acid consumption and impurity dissolution. Understanding these relationships is important for optimising scandium recovery while managing dissolution of gangue components and the requirements of downstream purification.
“These early results from ANSTO give us a useful basis for refining the Salazar leach conditions. In the 50 g/L sulphuric acid test, limiting leach time to six hours significantly limits the aluminium extracted into solution while basically extracting the same amount of scandium as a 24 hour leach test – which is a very positive finding,” MD, Matt Szwedzicki, said.
“Our next step is to confirm the extraction results and assess how feed size and leach conditions affect scandium extraction, acid consumption and impurity dissolution. We will combine this work with the ALS beneficiation program to evaluate an integrated processing flowsheet.
“Alongside the metallurgical programs, aircore drilling is scheduled to begin in late October to test higher-grade shallow scandium zones and extensions to known mineralisation. Together, these programs will help us assess Salazar’s processing options and resource potential.”
The ANSTO program will now focus on assessing the leach extractions, acid consumption and leach liquor composition when specific size fractions of the Salazar feed material are leached. This process ties into the benefication program that is currently underway with ALS.
Outputs and findings from both work programs will be combined to inform an integrated processing flowsheet for the Salazar project.
WC1 was steady at 1.3¢. Mkt cap $5.406M.
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