VANCOUVER, BC, Jan. 24,
2023 /CNW/ - FPX Nickel Corp. (TSXV: FPX) (OTCQB:
FPOCF) ("FPX" or the "Company") is pleased to present
results from recently completed large-scale pilot testwork, with
results validating both the flowsheet and the 85% Davis Tube
Recoverable ("DTR") nickel recovery assumed in the 2020
Preliminary Economic Assessment ("2020 PEA") for the
Baptiste Nickel Project ("Baptiste" or the "Project")
at the Decar Nickel District in central British Columbia. The
Company's current large-scale, three-phase metallurgical testwork
program, which has been ongoing since mid-2021, will conclude in
the second quarter of 2023 and the resulting dataset will support
the completion of the Baptiste Preliminary Feasibility Study
("PFS").
Highlights
- Large-scale pilot testwork is now complete and sufficient
high-grade (> 65% nickel) awaruite concentrate was produced for
downstream hydrometallurgical testing for the production of
battery-grade nickel sulphate
- Large-scale pilot testwork validates the processing strategy
for Baptiste, leveraging awaruite's ferromagnetism, high density,
active surface properties, and very high nickel content into a
simple flowsheet utilizing magnetic separation followed by
conventional froth flotation
- Consistent with the PEA, the PFS metallurgical testwork program
confirms a minimum 85% DTR nickel recovery basis for the Baptiste
PFS, including:
-
- Pilot-scale magnetic separation and bench-scale flotation
testwork confirm an overall minimum DTR nickel recovery of 82% to a
high-grade awaruite concentrate
- Bench-scale testwork confirms the potential to improve DTR
nickel recovery by an additional 3-5% through atmospheric leaching
of flotation tailings followed by hydroxide precipitation
"Our current three-phase metallurgical testwork program confirms
earlier results that demonstrate the technical feasibility of the
Baptiste Nickel Project," commented Andrew
Osterloh, FPX Nickel's Vice-President, Projects.
"Large-scale pilot testwork is an effective tool for the Company to
validate our straightforward processing strategy, which is based on
awaruite's unique characteristics, leading to a simple concentrator
flowsheet with a robust recovery basis. As we continue to
demonstrate Baptiste's ability to produce very high-grade nickel
concentrates, we further confirm that Baptiste's concentrate does
not require intermediate smelting before use in either the
stainless steel or electric vehicle battery supply chains, which is
an important value differentiator for the Project."
Summary
The Baptiste processing strategy leverages awaruite's distinct
properties in a simple, yet robust flowsheet. The front end
of the flowsheet utilizes magnetic separation to create a
"magnetics rich" concentrate of awaruite and magnetite – a process
made effective due to awaruite's ferromagnetism and density.
The back end of the flowsheet then utilizes conventional froth
flotation to separate awaruite from magnetite – a process made
effective due to awaruite's active surface properties and
magnetite's general lack of flotability. Finally, based on
awaruite's very high nickel content, a very high-grade nickel
concentrate (50-65% nickel) can be produced. Figure 1
presents the Baptiste flowsheet and Table 2 in the following
section presents further details on Baptiste's processing
strategy. As noted in Figure 1, a new processing opportunity
treating flotation tailings has been identified, and the results
are discussed herein.
The Company's three-phase metallurgical testwork program, which
has been ongoing since mid-2021, is approximately 85% complete and
will conclude in the second quarter of 2023. The program
includes both bench- and pilot-scale testwork and evaluates the
comminution, magnetic separation, flotation, and hydrometallurgical
unit operations. The overall program will test approximately
25 tonnes of material, including a life-of-mine master composite,
mine phase composites, and a bulk sample from the starter pit
area. Key results from the PFS metallurgical testwork program
are presented in Table 1.
Table 1 – Key PFS Metallurgical Testwork Program Results –
DTR Ni Recovery
DTR Nickel
Recovery
|
PEA
Criteria
|
Preliminary PFS
Criteria
|
Stage
Recovery
|
Primary Magnetic
Separation
|
90 %
|
94 %
|
Cleaner Magnetic
Separation
|
100 %
|
99 %
|
Flotation
|
94 %
|
88 %
|
Overall
Recovery
|
85 %
|
82 %
|
New Opportunity –
Flotation Tails Leaching
|
-
|
3-5% improvement;
leading to
minimum 85% overall
|
Note that Table 1 presents a preliminary view on PFS recovery
criteria, and that the in-progress variability testwork (see Table
3 in the following section) will confirm final PFS recovery
criteria. As noted in Table 1, primary magnetic separation
stage recovery has improved versus the 2020 PEA, balancing the
effect of reduced flotation stage recovery versus the 2020
PEA. Additionally, flotation tailings nickel leaching
represents a significant new opportunity to improve overall nickel
recovery to match or exceed the 85% recovery assumed in the 2020
PEA.
Background
The Company has completed approximately 85% of a three-phase PFS
metallurgical test program aimed at validating the Baptiste
processing strategy, flowsheet, and key process parameters.
The Baptiste processing strategy leverages awaruite's unique
characteristics and is summarized in Table 2. The
overall program is summarized in Table 3, resulting in a robust
dataset to support the Baptiste PFS. Phase 3 of the program
has been subdivided into three components, as identified in Table
3.
Table 2 – Awaruite's Distinct Properties and Baptiste's
Processing Strategy
Awaruite
Property
|
Value
|
Processing Strategy
to Leverage Property
|
Ferromagnetic
|
Highly
ferromagnetic;
approximately ten times more than
magnetite
|
Use low intensity
magnetic separation to cleanly
separate awaruite and other magnetic minerals
(magnetite) away from serpentine gangue minerals
(barren waste rock)
|
Very Dense
|
Specific gravity of
8.6;
compared to the
serpentine gangue
minerals (approximately 2.5-3.0)
|
Select a coarse primary
grind size while maintaining
high primary recoveries by using a hydrocyclone
classifier to preferentially recycle and further grind
awaruite containing particles (i.e., preferential
grinding of coarse awaruite)
|
Active Surface
Properties
|
Comparable to sulphide
minerals
|
Use froth flotation to
cleanly separate awaruite
(which is readily floatable) from magnetite (which
does not float under typical froth flotation
conditions)
|
Very High Nickel
Content
|
77% nickel
(Ni3Fe)
|
Produce a mineral
concentrate by froth flotation that
is sufficiently high-grade (50-65% Ni) and low
enough in impurities to eliminate the need to further
upgrade the concentrate via downstream smelting
|
Table 3 – Summary of Three-Phase PFS Metallurgical Testwork
Program
Phase
|
Objective
|
Key
Results
|
Status
|
1
|
1. Confirm PEA magnetic
separation
results using composite sample
representative of life-of-mine
operations.
2. Expand comminution
and grinding
parameter databases.
|
1. PEA magnetic
separation
configuration and results validated,
generating a magnetics-rich feed for
flotation with the potential for recovery
improvement in primary magnetic
separation due to preferential grinding.
2. Generation of a
PFS-level
comminution database and provide
inputs into an engineering study to
confirm SAG milling as preferred over
HPGR grinding.
|
Complete
Refer to FPX
news release
dated December
8th, 2021
|
2
|
1. Confirm nickel
mineralogy across
Baptiste resource.
2. Confirm PEA
conclusion that froth
flotation can generate high grade nickel
concentrate.
|
1. Consistent
mineralization confirmed
across deposit and confirmation of the
resource DTR nickel basis as a valuable
geometallurgical tool.
2. PEA froth flotation
configuration and
results validated, with the generation of a
high-grade nickel concentrate (> 60%
nickel) with a locked cycle recovery of
88%. Alternative flotation regime
identified to potentially reduce circuit
reagent costs and complexity.
|
Complete
Refer to FPX
news release
dated
July 27th,
2022
|
3a
|
1. Large-scale, longer
duration pilot
testing to further demonstrate the
recovery benefits observed in Phase 1.
2. Generate sufficient
high-grade
awaruite concentrate for
hydrometallurgy testing.
|
1. Further validation
of PEA flowsheet
and confirmation of benefit of
preferential grinding.
2. Sufficient
high-grade concentrate
(>65% Ni) generated.
|
Complete
Refer to this
news release
|
3b
|
Variability testing to
confirm the
homogeneity of the Baptiste resource
and further validate the process design
criteria and design factors.
|
Testing in
progress
|
Results forecast
for release in the
second quarter
of 2023
|
3c
|
Hydrometallurgy testing
program to
optimize previous leach testing, and
conduct purification and nickel
sulphate crystallization testwork to
demonstrate efficient integration into
the battery material supply chain
|
Testing in
progress
|
Results forecast
for release in the
second quarter
of 2023
|
The overall metallurgical testwork campaign is being overseen by
Jeffrey B. Austin, P.Eng., President
of International Metallurgical and Environmental Inc.
Phase 3a –Large-Scale Pilot
Testwork
Building on Phase 1 piloting, the Company undertook large-scale
pilot testwork to (1) further demonstrate the recovery benefits of
plant-scale processing, and (2) generate sufficient high-grade
awaruite concentrate for hydrometallurgical testing. The
Company engaged Corem (Quebec,
Canada) to conduct this testwork based on their expertise in
magnetic separation and conventional froth flotation and their
extensive, world-class facilities. FPX's metallurgical team
worked closely with Corem to optimize a wide range of parameters
for each unit operation in the flowsheet, which was only possible
due to the large overall scale of the pilot testwork.
Initial results of the large-scale pilot testwork were reported
in the Phase 2 news release (July 27,
2022) and focused on the performance of the primary grind
and magnetic separation unit operations. This release
provides complete results from the large-scale pilot testwork,
which is now substantially complete.
17 tonnes of material were processed in the pilot test conducted
at Corem. The feedstock for piloting was a bulk sample from the
starter pit area with a head grade of 0.117% DTR nickel, as
compared to the resource average of 0.129%.
Primary grind feed rates averaged 210 kg/h, with a total run
time of over 80 hours. In contrast, the Phase 1 pilot plant
processed 3.6 tonnes of feed material over 23 hours of run time.
As previously reported, the shorter duration of the Phase 1
pilot was insufficient to reach steady state milling conditions due
to the high density of awaruite and its influence on the
recirculating load, while the Phase 3 pilot reached steady
state conditions after processing 11 tonnes of material over 54
hours. When steady state was reached, multiple surveys were
conducted at primary grind sizes ranging from 80% passing 150 to
280 microns, leading to a robust dataset which supports the
conclusions inferred from the Phase 1 pilot testing.
Phase 3a – Primary Magnetic Separation
As demonstrated in the Phase 1 piloting, awaruite's high density
(~8.6 specific gravity ("SG")) presents an opportunity for
preferentially grinding awaruite, versus the much less dense
background of serpentine gangue minerals (approximately 2.5-3.0
SG). As a hydrocyclone classifies minerals based both on
particle size and particle density, preferential grinding of
awaruite was both expected and observed. The preferential
grinding of dense awaruite means that Baptiste can utilize a
relatively coarse primary grind (target of 80% passing 275 microns
for the PFS, versus 300 microns in the 2020 PEA) while achieving
the metallurgical performance of a much finer grind, thus reducing
circuit sizing, power consumption, and operating consumables.
In addition to demonstrating the benefits of preferential
grinding of awaruite, additional pilot plant runs and ancillary
bench-scale programs were completed to determine the impact of
magnetic field strength on recovery. Note that the testwork
supporting the 2020 PEA utilized relatively low intensity magnetic
separation and did not thoroughly explore the benefits of increased
field strength.
The impact of preferential grinding and magnetic field strength
are summarized in Figure 2. The results clearly indicate a
0.5-1.5% increase in DTR nickel recovery due to increasing magnetic
field strength from 1,200 to 1,800 Gauss. Note that 1,800
Gauss is still sufficiently low to be classified as "low intensity"
magnetic separation and as such does not require a significant
change or cost increase in the magnetic technology required for
industrial equipment.
Also seen in Figure 2, the pilot plant results clearly
indicate an additional 0.5-1.0% recovery benefit attributed to
preferential grinding, versus results achieved in bench-scale
testing. In aggregate, preferential grinding and increased
magnetic field strength leads to a recovery increase of 2-3% at the
coarse primary grind size targeted for the PFS (80% passing 275
microns). For comparison, Figure 2 also presents the
90.1% DTR nickel stage recovery assumed in the 2020
PEA. Additionally, Figure 2 also presents Phase 1
piloting results (96.9% DTR nickel recovery) which was conducted on
a representative life-of-mine composite, illustrating the potential
for further recovery improvements. The in-progress
variability testwork (Phase 3b)
should provide further insight into this potential recovery
improvement.
Phase 3a – Regrind and Cleaner Magnetic Separation
Following the primary circuit pilot test, the regrind circuit
pilot plant test was conducted. The objective of the regrind
circuit is to further liberate awaruite and subsequently clean the
concentrate by magnetic separation in order to produce a
higher-grade "magnetics-rich" concentrate which can then be further
upgraded by conventional froth flotation.
Similar to the primary circuit, the regrind circuit was set-up
with closed circuit grinding using a hydrocyclone classifier, once
again to take advantage of awaruite's high density and the
resultant preferential grinding potential. While the
preferential grinding phenomenon was expected, it was much more
pronounced than in the primary circuit. Despite a total run
time of 46 hours and a total regrind feed of 1.8 tonnes, steady
state conditions were not achieved. At the time of shutdown,
it was estimated that the DTR nickel recirculating load was 5600%
and only approximately 40% of DTR nickel was sufficiently fine
enough to have reported to cyclone overflow for magnetic separation
cleaning.
For the approximately 40% of DTR nickel which was sufficiently
ground to report to hydrocyclone overflow, the DTR nickel recovery
in cleaner magnetic separation exceeded 99%, in line with the 100%
stage recovery assumption in the 2020 PEA. The remaining DTR
nickel recovered in the regrind circuit clean-out was batch ground
and then subjected to magnetic separation, where DTR nickel
recovery also exceeded 99%.
Phase 3a – Flotation
Having created a magnetics-rich product through two stages of
grinding and magnetic separation, the objective of froth flotation
is to separate awaruite from magnetite. The cleaner magnetic
separation concentrate produced from the regrind mill clean-out
material was subjected to bench- and pilot-scale batch flotation as
this material contained the majority of DTR nickel (60% of the
regrind circuit feed). This material performed exceptionally
well in flotation, with a 94% recovery to a final concentrate
grading more than 65% nickel. This is inline with previous
bench-scale flotation testwork results and the PEA's assumption of
94% flotation stage recovery to a 63% nickel concentrate.
Flotation concentrate from the Corem work is now the feedstock
for the current hydrometallurgical testing program, the results of
which will be released in the second quarter of 2023.
Update on Phase 2 Flotation
Testwork
As indicated in the Company's July 27,
2022 news release, key flotation testwork results achieved
during Phase 2 included confirmation of the ability to consistently
produce very high-grade flotation concentrates and the potential
for an alternative (lower-acid) flotation regime which could
achieve similar metallurgical performance while reducing flotation
operating costs and complexity. The Phase 2 news release
indicated flotation testwork remained in progress, and an update on
the results is presented herein.
Further optimization of the baseline flotation conditions
resulted in a slight improvement in locked cycle testing, with
flotation stage nickel recovery increasing from 87% to 88%.
As indicated in the Company's July 27,
2022 news release, while recovery values are less than the
PEA flotation stage recovery criteria of 94%, the current flotation
results were impacted by the lower feed grade owing to the hold-up
of nickel in the pilot plant grinding circuit. As comparable
flotation tailings grades were observed across the current and
historic flotation programs, and testwork continues to indicate
that coarse, liberated awaruite is readily recoverable in
flotation, the Company continues to anticipate recovery estimates
would increase if the flotation feed material was more
representative.
Additionally, locked cycle testwork on the alternative,
lower-acid flotation regime achieved similar results to the
Company's historical flotation conditions. This lower-acid regime
has the potential to reduce acid consumption by approximately
25%. Fundamentally, testwork has now clearly identified two
viable flotation regimes which can achieve similar and excellent
metallurgical performance, thereby validating conventional froth
flotation as a tool to produce very high-grade awaruite
concentrates.
New Processing Option to Increase
Nickel Recovery
In addition to the ongoing flotation testwork, the Company is
conducting a test program to demonstrate the potential to further
improve nickel recovery through treating flotation tailings via
leaching. The objective of this processing concept is to
access any nickel contained in low-grade awaruite containing
particles that would dilute the final concentrate grade or
ultra-fine awaruite particles that may not respond as effectively
to conventional froth flotation.
Testwork to-date demonstrates that 65% of the nickel contained
in flotation tailings can be readily leached using dilute sulphuric
acid under ambient temperature and pressure conditions. The
balance of unrecovered nickel (35%) is almost entirely composed of
nickel contained within magnetite, either as locked particles or in
solid solution. This indicates that the leaching process is
extremely efficient for liberated or exposed awaruite
particles. Nickel was selectively leached away from magnetite
with minimal co-leaching of iron (around 2-3%) and very low free
acidities in the leach liquor, which indicates the potential for
low reagent consumptions. The majority of nickel in such a
leach solution could readily be recovered as a mixed hydroxide
precipitate ("MHP") using simple and conventional unit
operations. This would be a new product stream, in addition
to the high-grade awaruite concentrate which would still constitute
the vast majority (95% or greater) of nickel output.
Flotation tailings nickel leaching represents a significant new
opportunity to improve overall nickel recovery to match or exceed
the 85% recovery assumed in the 2020 PEA. Based on results to date,
it is estimated that DTR nickel recovery could be increased by 3-5%
overall (from 82% to a minimum of 85%).
Qualified Person
The metallurgical information in this news release has been
prepared in accordance with Canadian regulatory requirements set
out in National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosures for
Minerals Projects of the Canadian Securities Administrators ("NI
43-101") and supervised, reviewed, and verified by Jeffrey B.
Austin, P.Eng., President of International Metallurgical and
Environmental Inc., a "Qualified Person" as defined by NI 43-101
and the person who oversees metallurgical developments for FPX
Nickel.
About the Decar Nickel
District
The Company's Decar Nickel District claims cover 245
km2 of the Mount Sidney Williams ultramafic/ophiolite
complex, 90 km northwest of Fort St. James in central British
Columbia. The District is a two-hour drive from Fort
St. James on a high-speed logging road.
Decar hosts a greenfield discovery of nickel mineralization in
the form of a naturally occurring nickel-iron alloy called awaruite
(Ni3Fe), which is amenable to bulk-tonnage, open-pit
mining. Awaruite mineralization has been identified in four
target areas within this ophiolite complex, being the Baptiste
Deposit, and the B, Sid and Van targets, as confirmed by drilling,
petrographic examination, electron probe analyses and outcrop
sampling on all four targets. Since 2010, approximately US
$28 million has been spent on the
exploration and development of Decar.
Of the four targets in the Decar Nickel District, the Baptiste
Deposit, which was initially the most accessible and had the
biggest known surface footprint, has been the focus of diamond
drilling since 2010, with a total of 99 holes and 33,700 m of drilling completed. The Sid
target was tested with two holes in 2010 and the B target had a
single hole drilled in 2011; all three holes intersected
nickel-iron alloy mineralization over wide intervals with DTR
nickel grades comparable to the Baptiste Deposit. In 2021,
the Company executed a maiden drilling program at Van, which has
returned promising results comparable with the strongest results at
Baptiste. In 2022, the Company executed a step-out drilling
program at Van which demonstrated a significant expansion of the
2021-identified mineralized zone.
About FPX Nickel Corp.
FPX Nickel Corp. is focused on the exploration and
development of the Decar Nickel District, located in central
British Columbia, and other
occurrences of the same unique style of naturally occurring
nickel-iron alloy mineralization known as awaruite.
On behalf of FPX Nickel Corp.
"Martin Turenne"
Martin Turenne, President, CEO and
Director
Forward-Looking
Statements
Certain of the statements made and information contained
herein is considered "forward-looking information" within the
meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. These statements
address future events and conditions and so involve inherent risks
and uncertainties, as disclosed in the Company's periodic filings
with Canadian securities regulators. Actual results could differ
from those currently projected. The Company does not assume the
obligation to update any forward-looking statement.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services
Provider accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of
this release.
SOURCE FPX Nickel Corp.