Havilah Resources NL (ASX:HAV) Coarser Grind Size Improves Recoveries At Lilydale Iron Ore Project
Perth, May 11, 2010 AEST (ABN Newswire) - Excellent results have previously been reported for preliminary Davis Tube testwork on composite drill chip samples from Havilah Resources'(
ASX:HAV) RC percussion drillholes at the Lilydale iron ore project for grind sizes of 38 and 75 microns (see ASX announcement 27 April 2010). Davis Tube analysis is designed to determine the percentage recovery of the magnetic minerals (in this case magnetite - Fe3O4) from the bulk sample. Chemical analysis of the resultant magnetic fraction gives the Fe content of the concentrate as well as the levels of impurity elements.
Further results have been received for a coarser grind size sample fraction of 106 microns (or just over 0.1 mm diameter) which continue to indicate relatively good recoveries of Fe for only a small reduction in the Fe concentrate grades. The levels of impurity elements such as alumina, phosphorous and titanium continue to remain extremely low. It is notable that at the 106 micron grind size, 68% of the total iron in the sample is recovered, which is a 33% improvement over the total iron recovered for the finest grind size of 38 microns. This is achieved for only a minor reduction in the Fe concentrate grade (from 70% to 68%) and marginal increases in deleterious impurity element levels.
Dr Bob Johnson, Havilah's Chairman, said that the favourable recoveries for the coarser grind size meant that potentially significantly less energy would be required for grinding in order to achieve satisfactory Fe recoveries.
"Energy costs for grinding to liberate the magnetite are a major cost. If lower energy levels can still produce good recoveries of magnetite it means costs are less and profitability is improved. Considering that the Lilydale iron ore is already relatively soft to start with compared with other more siliceous iron ores, there is potentially a significant competitive advantage in reduced grinding costs " he said.
Havilah is presently in discussions with potential foreign investors, initially to assist with funding of a feasibility study for the Lilydale project. This will include extensive percussion drilling to determine a resource and diamond drilling in order to obtain representative samples for comprehensive Davis Tube testwork.
The Lilydale iron ore projects lies 50 km southeast of Yunta, which is located on the Transcontinental Railway, some 200 km east of Port Pirie. Aeromagnetic anomalies associated with magnetic ironstone indicate at least 35 km of strike of the Braemar Iron Formation lie within EL 3519. The five drillholes recently completed by Havilah represent the only exploration holes ever drilled into this portion of the Braemar Iron Formation and the Davis Tube test results are the first ever published from the area.
For the full Havilah Resources announcement including figures, please view the following link:
http://www.abnnewswire.net/media/en/docs/62836-ASX-HAV-178091.pdf
About Havilah Resources Ltd
Havilah Resources Ltd (ASX:HAV) is a debt free South Australian gold producer having recently financed and developed its first gold mine at Portia in north-eastern South Australia. It plans to follow on with three copper-gold-cobalt mining developments at North Portia, Kalkaroo and Mutooroo, which are underpinned by a JORC resources mineral inventory of over 1.4 million tonnes of copper, 3.6 million ounces of gold, and 18,000 tonnes of cobalt.
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