Globe Metals encouraged by results

Globe Metals and Mining, an Australian Securities Exchange (ASX)-listed miner, says it is encouraged by results on the mine’s engineering study atKanyika in Mzimba, where it is exploring for niobium.

In a statement posted on ASX, the miner said there have been improved flotation results, smelting concentrate has demonstrated a marketable ferroalloy (various alloys with a high proportion of one or more other elements such as manganese, aluminum or silicon) and that significant cost savings are expected due to reagents (substance used in chemical reaction to detect, examine, or produce substances) optimisation.

“[The] results enhance the Kanyika project commercialisation process,” reads the statement in part, stressing this indicates that demonstration plant for flotation and smelting is in progress.

Earlier, the company announced that it had embarked on a project review and optimisation programme for Kanyika Niobium Project (KNP) in collaboration with Chinese special metals experts brought in by its major shareholder, Eastern China Non-Ferrous Metals Investment Holdings Company Limited (ECE).

The engagement of ECE was meant to review the work undertaken by Globe Metals and to identify where further optimisation of the project can be achieved through access to Chinese niobium/tantalum expertise, technology, procurement and potential funding.

The optimisation programme aims to upgrade the concentrate while simplifying and reducing costs of the reagent scheme.

“The refining optimisation programme aims to further evaluate cost-effective methods of flotation concentrate. The programmes are now in full swing and preliminary results are encouraging,” said the statement.

According to Globe’s statement, progress results from the optimisation work of KNP has shown that reagent optimising has defined the production of a 37 percent concentrate at 74 percent recovery (from 26 percent grade and 77 percent recovery) which will reduce downstream processing costs.

It said the reagents used in flotation are 50 percent lower in volume and cheaper than those required in previous test work, which is a significant cost savings.

“Further works are aimed at recovering marketable zircon from the concentrate. The removal of      zircon from the concentrate will further increase concentrate grade, enhancing cost savings and provide a small additional revenue stream,” said the company.

Globe’s current focus is KNP which is expected to produce niobium and tantalum products, key additives in steel and electronics.