Maronan Metals has reported significantly improved metallurgical testwork results for its Maronan copper-gold deposit, with gold recoveries reaching up to 88% and copper recoveries exceeding 96% in primary ore types. These findings enhance confidence in the project’s processing potential and underpin ongoing feasibility studies.
- Gold recoveries up to 88% from primary copper-gold ore
- Copper recoveries exceeding 96% in primary ore types
- Primary ore represents 89% of the total copper-gold resource
- Ore amenable to conventional flotation with low penalty elements
- Further metallurgical optimisation and feasibility studies underway
Metallurgical Breakthrough at Maronan
Maronan Metals Limited has unveiled encouraging metallurgical testwork results that significantly improve the outlook for processing its copper-gold mineralisation at the Maronan deposit in northwest Queensland. The company’s latest laboratory-scale flotation tests demonstrate gold recoveries reaching as high as 88% and copper recoveries exceeding 96% from the primary copper-gold ore type, which makes up nearly 90% of the deposit’s resource.
These results mark a substantial improvement over previous testwork that reported gold recoveries in the 50–70% range, providing a stronger foundation for the economic viability of the project. The enhanced recoveries are particularly important given that the primary ore type dominates the resource base, underscoring the potential for efficient extraction of both metals.
Ore Types and Processing Insights
The Maronan deposit hosts three distinct copper-gold ore types, primary, transitional, and leached. The primary ore, characterised by vein-style copper mineralisation with chalcopyrite and pyrrhotite or pyrite-magnetite assemblages, accounts for 89% of the resource. Transitional and leached ores make up smaller proportions and showed more variable recoveries in the testwork.
Testwork was conducted using flotation schemes based on existing plants in the Cloncurry and Mt Isa regions, with variations in grind size and reagent regimes. The primary ore samples responded well to conventional flotation, producing concentrates with low levels of penalty elements, substances that can reduce concentrate value or complicate smelting.
Challenges and Next Steps
While the primary ore showed excellent recoveries, transitional and leached ore types exhibited more variable results, partly due to elevated native copper and trace elements like arsenic and lead that exceeded typical penalty thresholds. Maronan Metals is exploring blending strategies and further metallurgical optimisation to mitigate these issues.
The company has commenced additional testwork focusing on toll treatment options and dedicated processing plant designs as part of its ongoing feasibility studies. These efforts aim to refine recovery estimates and ensure the production of market-acceptable concentrates across all ore types.
Chairman Simon Bird highlighted the significance of these findings, noting that the improved gold recoveries build on earlier work and strengthen confidence in the project’s processing characteristics. The results support Maronan Metals’ strategy to advance the Maronan Project towards development.
Bottom Line?
Maronan Metals’ enhanced metallurgical recoveries set the stage for critical feasibility milestones, but managing ore variability remains key.
Questions in the middle?
- How will Maronan Metals address penalty elements in transitional and leached ores to maintain concentrate quality?
- What are the projected capital and operating costs implications of the proposed processing optimisations?
- When can investors expect updated feasibility study results incorporating these metallurgical improvements?