Podium Minerals has reported a significant metallurgical breakthrough at its Parks Reef project, achieving a 40% uplift in platinum group metal grades and strong recovery rates using a new concentrator flowsheet on high-grade hanging wall material.
- Concentrator recovers ~73% of key 3E metals (Pt, Pd, Au) from high-grade hanging wall
- Two discrete high-grade PGM products totaling 115 g/t 3E, ~40% grade uplift over bulk sulphide
- Copper recovery improved to 76%, enhancing overall process efficiency
- Flowsheet flexibility enables selective mining and feed grade optimisation
- Ongoing test work aims to validate and optimise processing across mineralised zones
Metallurgical Breakthrough at Parks Reef
Podium Minerals Limited (ASX:POD) has announced a major advancement in processing its Parks Reef Platinum Group Metals (PGM) Project in Western Australia. Recent metallurgical test work on diamond core samples from the high-grade hanging wall zone has demonstrated the effectiveness of a newly developed concentrator flowsheet. This innovation has delivered a substantial uplift in product grades and recovery rates, marking a significant milestone for the project’s development.
The concentrator flowsheet recovered approximately 73% of the combined platinum, palladium, and gold (3E metals) from the hanging wall material, producing two distinct high-grade PGM products with a combined grade of 115 grams per tonne 3E. This represents a roughly 40% increase in grade compared to previously tested bulk sulphide material and an impressive 55-fold upgrade from feed grade, underscoring the concentrator’s efficiency.
Enhanced Recovery and Processing Flexibility
Beyond the uplift in precious metals, copper recovery from the hanging wall feed also improved markedly to 76%, compared to 52% from bulk sulphide feed. This enhanced recovery not only boosts overall process performance but also increases the economic leverage of selectively mining higher-grade zones within the deposit.
Podium’s Managing Director, Rod Baxter, highlighted that the concentrator flowsheet’s adaptability across different mineralised zones provides valuable optionality. This flexibility supports blending strategies and feed grade optimisation, potentially accelerating mine scheduling and improving project economics. The high-grade product’s compatibility with existing PGM refineries further enhances its marketability and payability.
Resource Potential and Strategic Positioning
The Parks Reef deposit extends over a 15-kilometre strike length and remains open at depth, with a current mineral resource estimate of 7.9 million ounces of 5E PGMs. The deposit features distinct mineralised horizons, including the high-grade hanging wall and footwall zones, which offer opportunities for selective extraction and grade leverage.
Podium’s ongoing metallurgical test program aims to validate and optimise the concentrator flowsheet further, incorporating samples from current drilling campaigns. This work is critical to refining processing strategies and unlocking the full value of Parks Reef’s diverse mineralisation.
Building a World-Class Technical and Leadership Team
Podium has strengthened its leadership and technical teams, assembling a world-class board and expert metallurgical consultants. This robust foundation supports the company’s ambition to develop Parks Reef into a globally significant PGM operation, leveraging its technical advancements to maximise project value and market positioning.
Bottom Line?
Podium’s metallurgical advances at Parks Reef set the stage for accelerated development and enhanced market opportunities, but commercial-scale validation remains the next critical step.
Questions in the middle?
- How will Podium scale the concentrator flowsheet from lab to commercial production?
- What are the timelines and costs associated with integrating selective mining strategies?
- How might evolving PGM market dynamics influence downstream processing and payability?