EV Resources Hits 90.8% Antimony Recovery, Outperforming Flotation Tests
EV Resources reports exceptional antimony recovery at its Los Lirios project using a simplified gravity process, paving the way for a lower-cost, accelerated development timeline.
- 90.8% antimony recovery via reagent-free two-stage gravity process
- Gravity-only method outperforms flotation-based recovery (90.8% vs 85.3%)
- High-grade concentrates with 22%-36% antimony produced
- 99.2% recovery from high-grade sulphide flotation test indicates deeper ore potential
- Supports lower CAPEX, simplified plant design, and faster restart plans
Exceptional Recovery Breakthrough
EV Resources (ASX, EVR) has unveiled promising metallurgical test results from its Los Lirios Antimony Project in Oaxaca, Mexico, confirming that a straightforward, reagent-free two-stage gravity concentration process can recover 90.8% of antimony from ore. This recovery rate notably surpasses the 85.3% achieved through a more complex flotation-based method, marking a significant milestone in the project's development.
The gravity-only approach not only simplifies processing but also produces high-quality concentrates grading between 22% and 36% antimony, with minimal metal loss evidenced by a low tailings grade of 0.37%. This efficiency suggests a more streamlined, cost-effective pathway to production, reducing both capital expenditure and environmental permitting hurdles.
Flotation Potential for Deeper Sulphide Ore
Complementing the gravity results, a separate flotation test on a high-grade sulphide sample (31.2% antimony) yielded an impressive 99.2% recovery, with concentrate grades exceeding 50%. While this flotation route is not currently part of the initial production plan, it highlights the potential for enhanced recovery from deeper sulphide mineralisation, which EV Resources intends to explore further as drilling progresses.
Strategic Implications and Next Steps
These metallurgical advancements underpin EV Resources’ strategy to fast-track Los Lirios towards production by leveraging the nearby Tecomatlán Processing Plant. The simplified gravity circuit reduces complexity, lowers operational costs, and accelerates permitting, supporting a low-risk, low-capital investment decision targeted by year-end.
Looking ahead, the company is finalising engineering and refurbishment plans for the plant upgrade, while preparing for a maiden drilling campaign expected to commence in early 2026. Additionally, EV Resources is engaging with local artisanal miners to secure supplementary feedstock, further bolstering project economics.
Positioning in the Critical Minerals Landscape
Antimony is a critical mineral essential for energy storage, battery technologies, and defense applications, with supply chains under increasing scrutiny globally. EV Resources’ progress at Los Lirios positions it as a key player in securing North American and global antimony supply, aligning with strategic priorities of the US, EU, and Australia.
While preliminary, these results mark a pivotal step in transforming Los Lirios from exploration to near-term production, with the potential to deliver a commercially viable, environmentally responsible antimony source.
Bottom Line?
EV Resources’ breakthrough recovery results set the stage for a low-cost, expedited Los Lirios development, but upcoming drilling and optimization will be critical to confirm full project potential.
Questions in the middle?
- How will further drilling refine the understanding of sulphide mineralisation and recovery potential?
- What are the detailed CAPEX and OPEX implications of adopting the gravity-only processing route?
- How might evolving antimony market dynamics impact EV Resources’ production and pricing strategy?
