Viking Mines (ASX: VKA) upbeat on ‘excellent’  metallurgical test results

Highlights

• VKA’s stock price jumped 8% on the latest update.
• Viking Mines has begun Stage 2 metallurgical testwork on samples from the Canegrass vanadium project.
• The testwork is being conducted to define a pathway to final saleable products.
• The initial results from the Stage 2 testwork demonstrate the high quality of the ore, with concentrate grades up to 1.41% V₂O₅ being

Shares of Viking Mines Ltd (ASX: VKA) jumped by around 8.3% on Friday morning on the Australian Securities Exchange and traded at AU$0.013, following an update on the ongoing progress at the company’s flagship Canegrass Battery Minerals Project.

The firm has begun Stage 2 metallurgical testwork on samples collected during the 7,500m drilling program conducted at the project site.

The testwork is being conducted to define a pathway to final saleable products. Samples are composited before making a concentrate prior additional processing for generating high purity V₂O₅ flake along with other marketable products.

Stage 2 Metallurgical Testwork Programme

The Company has hired services of Bureau Veritas for the stage two metallurgical testwork on 29 samples gathered from hole VCRC0026. Total 29 one metre samples have been taken from the main intercept of VCRC0026 above a 0.5% V₂O₅ cut-off.

Viking is focused on the optimisation of processes for generating a bulk concentrate to be refined to produce a V₂O₅ flake. The firm expects the testwork to be completed in the March 2024 quarter.

First results from Stage 2 testwork

Initial sighter testwork delivered a magnetic concentrate from a 43.5kg composite sample to establish grind size and concentrate characteristics. Below are the significant characteristics with results as obtained after analysis of the magnetic concentrate and tail produced.

Data source: company update

Future course of action

The company has advanced to the next stage of the testwork covering the grinding of 38kg of the bulk composite sample to P80 145µm, conducting Bulk Rougher Medium Intensity Magnetic Separation (MIMS) with P80 145 µm (Grind P98 212 µm), 3000 gauss, 20% solids. The work would include regrinding of the Con from the Bulk Rougher MIMS to P80 45 µm and 75 µm. The company plans to undertake sighter DTR II on P80 45 µm and 75 µm.