Accent Resources reports promising dry magnetic separation test results from its Magnetite Range Project, highlighting potential for water-efficient processing and high-grade iron concentrate production.
- Up to 46% mass rejected at 3mm with >97% iron recovery
- High-speed dry separation achieves >60% Fe concentrate at 0.150mm
- Dry processing could reduce water use and operating costs
- Independent testwork complements Bureau Veritas results
- Further optimisation underway in Pre-Feasibility Study
Dry Magnetic Separation Shows Strong Upgrade Potential
Accent Resources NL (ASX:ACS) has revealed encouraging independent testwork results from dry magnetic separation trials on its 100% owned Magnetite Range Project in Western Australia. The testing, conducted by Central South University in China, demonstrated that coarse dry magnetic separation can reject up to 46% of the mass at a 3mm crush size while maintaining magnetic iron recoveries consistently above 97%. This early-stage gangue rejection could significantly reduce the volume of material requiring downstream processing.
Moreover, high-speed dry magnetic separation testing achieved magnetite concentrate grades exceeding 60% Fe at coarse particle sizes of 0.150mm, using a fully dry processing flowsheet. This suggests a feasible pathway to producing high-quality magnetite concentrate without reliance on water-intensive wet processing methods, which could lower both capital and operating costs.
Testwork Details and Metallurgical Implications
The test program assessed multiple beneficiation routes focusing on dry magnetic separation to reduce water consumption and simplify processing. Coarse dry magnetic separation at –3mm particle size rejected nearly half the mass while keeping iron recovery rates near 99%. Fine crushing followed by additional dry magnetic separation further upgraded iron grades to over 50% Fe, with magnetic recovery still above 99%. High-speed separators operating at up to 9 m/s rotation speed pushed concentrate grades beyond 60% Fe, albeit with some trade-off in mass yield and iron recovery.
These results align with previous Bureau Veritas testwork reported in December 2025 and reinforce the potential for a water-efficient, cost-effective processing strategy. Accent’s Managing Director Dr David Sun highlighted that the ability to reject a substantial portion of waste early on, while maintaining high iron recovery, could reduce water use and downstream processing requirements, ultimately lowering operating costs.
Project Background and Next Steps
The Magnetite Range Project, located about 250km southeast of Geraldton in Western Australia's Mid-West region, holds a JORC-compliant Mineral Resource of 523.3 million tonnes grading 31.3% Fe. The recent testwork used composites from four diamond drill holes completed in 2024, with approximately eight tonnes of core material shipped to CSU for independent analysis.
Accent is continuing to optimise the dry beneficiation route as part of its ongoing Pre-Feasibility Study. Both dry and wet flowsheet scenarios remain under consideration to determine the optimal crush size and processing approach. The company’s focus on reducing water consumption and processing complexity aligns with broader industry trends toward sustainable and cost-efficient magnetite production.
Bottom Line?
Dry magnetic separation could be a game-changer for Magnetite Range, but further optimisation and PFS outcomes will be key to confirming its economic and environmental benefits.
Questions in the middle?
- What is the optimal balance between concentrate grade and iron recovery for commercial viability?
- How will dry processing impact overall project capital and operating costs compared to conventional wet flowsheets?
- What timelines and milestones can investors expect for the completion of the Pre-Feasibility Study?