Diatreme Resources reports significant improvements in mineral recoveries from metallurgical testwork on its Cyclone zircon-rich heavy mineral sands project, enhancing prospects for project development and shareholder value.
- 11-tonne bulk sample processed representing first 3 years of mining
- Heavy mineral concentrate recovery increased from 54.9% to 76.5%
- Zirconium dioxide recovery improved to 88.2%, titanium dioxide to 48.8%
- Advanced spirals and processing flowsheet tested by Mineral Technologies
- Ongoing mineral separation plant testwork to optimize final products
Context and Sample Collection
Diatreme Resources Limited (ASX – DRX) has provided a detailed update on metallurgical testwork from its Cyclone zircon-rich heavy mineral sands project located in Western Australia's Eucla Basin. The company collected an 11-tonne bulk sample during a 2024 drilling campaign designed to represent the first three years of mining. This sample, richer in heavy minerals than the average ore reserve grade, forms the basis for a comprehensive research and development program aimed at improving mineral recoveries and processing efficiency.
Innovative Processing Advances
Testwork conducted by Mineral Technologies at their Queensland facility has demonstrated significant gains in recovery rates using newer processing equipment. Notably, the MG12 spiral outperformed previous models, achieving a 95% recovery rate for zircon in the rougher concentration stage. The introduction of the compact CT1 spiral also showed promise for enhancing water efficiency and tailings management, with further testing underway.
Substantial Recovery Improvements
The heavy mineral concentrate (HMC) recovery increased markedly from 54.9% in prior testwork to 76.5%, while zirconium dioxide (ZrO2) recovery rose from 82.0% to 88.2%. Titanium dioxide (TiO2) recovery saw an even more pronounced jump from 30.8% to 48.8%. These improvements translate into a higher quantity of valuable concentrate, albeit with a slight reduction in concentrate grade due to increased waste mineral recovery, which will be rejected in subsequent processing stages.
Ongoing Mineral Separation Plant Testwork
Following the wet concentrator plant success, testwork on the mineral separation plant (MSP) has commenced, focusing on optimizing the production of final zircon and HiTi products. The HiTi product is expected to be a blend of several titanium dioxide minerals suitable for pigment production or other industrial uses. The MSP testwork employs a combination of dry and wet separation techniques, including magnetic and electrostatic separation, shaking tables, and possibly spirals, to refine product quality.
Strategic Implications and Market Engagement
Diatreme’s CEO Neil McIntyre highlighted the positive nature of the testwork results, emphasizing their potential to unlock shareholder value and advance project development under favorable market conditions for critical minerals like zircon and titanium. The company is actively engaging with potential customers and partners, providing samples of the heavy mineral concentrate and final products for evaluation. These efforts align with broader industry trends focusing on critical minerals essential for decarbonization and advanced manufacturing.
Bottom Line?
Diatreme’s metallurgical advances at Cyclone set the stage for enhanced project economics and strategic partnerships ahead.
Questions in the middle?
- How will the improved recoveries impact the overall project economics and development timeline?
- What are the market responses to the product samples provided to potential customers?
- Will further testwork refine the processing flowsheet to increase TiO2 recovery beyond current gains?