MRG Metals (ASX:MRQ) reports impressive test work results

Highlights:

• MRG Metals Limited reported excellent Pre-Feasibility Metallurgical test work results.
• The results justify the company’s potential to deliver higher-value products.
• As per the Pre-Feasibility level metallurgical Study, Ilmenite-grade improved substantially from the previous value of 46.7% TiO_2, which had been based on smaller metallurgical samples, and now stood at 48.4% TiO₂.
• The test results confirmed the material's ability to process readily through typical mineral sand methodologies and equipment.

Heavy Mineral Sands (HMS) player MRG Metals Limited (ASX:MRQ) has reported excellent Pre-Feasibility level Metallurgical test work results from the Koko Massava deposit within MRG's Corridor Sands Project. These results indicate the project's potential for delivering higher-value products, including a premium zircon product, with the potential to further refine to a rutile product specification and a HiTi product.

The results further validate the company’s beliefs that the Koko Massava deposits could be the foundation of a multi-decade mine operation at Corridor Sands.

To know more about the Corridor Sands project, click here.

Summary of products:

Along with the above-mentioned exciting results, test work outcomes also significantly enhanced the Ilmenite product's previous grade. As per the PFS, the Ilmenite grade is 48.4% TiO_2, which is higher than the previous value of 46.7% TiO₂. The previous value was based on smaller metallurgical samples.

However, the company is still working on the Ilmenite grade with plans to further test this Ilmenite product to 50% TiO₂. The company is also planning to better understand the nature of Chromium (0.15% Cr₂O₃) with the help of a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) study.

Image: © 2022 Kalkine Media®

The test work's other key highlights are:

1. The sample contained a negligible amount of oversize (+2.0mm) material.
2. The heavy metal content stood at 5.6% with +2.85 specific gravity.
3. Presence of moderate fines material with 18.0% -45µm grainsize.
4. The heavy mineral had a D₈₀ particle size of 257µm, while the sand fraction had a D₈₀ of 513µm.

The test results also confirmed the Koko Massava material's ability to process readily through typical mineral sand process methodologies and equipment. Interestingly, the material carries low-radioactivity contents, enhancing its desirability for blending. The standard mineral sands process included:

Image: © 2022 Kalkine Media®, Data Source: Company’s ASX update, 31 August 2022

The products are currently being tested for market acceptability and the outcome of the same is anticipated in three weeks. Further, a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) will be conducted after the market acceptability study.