Very Good indeed.
NAR Resources Ltd -
NAR receives Nova Scotia mineral sands test results
NAR Resources Ltd
NRL
Shares issued 6,727,202
1999-09-14 close $2.47
Wednesday Sep 15 1999
Mr. Leonard Taylor reports
NAR Resources has received positive metallurgical test results on its
titanium-zirconium mineral sands deposit near Truro, N.S. from the operator,
Titanium Corporation of Canada.
In order to complement the drilling project, a metallurgical study has commenced
with test work being developed by Lakefield Research Ltd. of Lakefield, Ont.
The work being conducted by Lakefield is focusing on maximizing the economic
recovery of the titanium and zirconium minerals. In order to accommodate the
testing procedure, Titanium Corporation's field personnel shipped a three-tonne
bulk composite sample in early August of this year to the Lakefield facility.
The information from these tests will enable project engineers to design and
optimize the processing plant. The results from the preliminary metallurgical testing
are proving that the economic minerals contained within the deposit are amenable
to processing through inexpensive and proven technology.
The area from which the three-tonne bulk sample was procured has been proven
to contain roughly 2 per cent to 8 per cent heavy minerals. While the grade of
mineral sands deposits is important, the mineral assemblage, along with recoveries,
is more important because of the difference in the value of individual mineral
products. In addition, various mining and processing methods have different unit
costs, thus placing a high level of significance on process engineering.
The size fractions of the unprocessed bulk sample demonstrated that 92 per cent
of the valuable heavy minerals, including 87 per cent of the titanium minerals, are
contained in the size fraction between 100 and 200 mesh. The consequence of this
information is positive in terms of processing and recovery of the economic
minerals.
In the gravity preconcentration test, between 88 per cent and 92 per cent of the
total titanium was recovered in a concentrate assaying between 10.8 per cent and
13.5 per cent TiO2. In the subsequent flotation test of the gravity rougher
concentrate, Lakefield Research noted: "The results obtained were highly
promising. The gravity concentrate in this particular test was upgraded from 13.4
per cent to 27.0 per cent TiO2 with very little loss in recovery. The
zirconium-titanium separation from the cleaner concentrate should not present
much of a problem." Further test work yielded a 71.5 per cent ZrO2 product. The
program is scheduled to continue for another three months.
It is significant to note that these initial promising results represent very preliminary
testing work, subsequent detailed work is anticipated to further improve upon
these results.
The role of mineral sands is becoming more important. Titanium minerals are the
feedstock for the production of titanium dioxide pigment, which is used as an
opacifier in paints, plastics and paper. Additionally, titanium metal is used in
chemical and aerospace industries as well as implants used in modern surgery.
Zircon, long used in refractories and in ceramics because of its strength, resistance
to heat corrosion as well as its low thermal conductivity, is in increasing demand
for use in combustion engines, bearings, computer discs and in chemical
processing. It is significant to note that mineral sands operators in Australia, South
Africa and the United States are producing concentrates from sands the heavy
mineral content of which ranges from 2 per cent to 4 per cent.
Titanium Corporation is proceeding with a viability study with Royal Dutch
Hoogovens, which is evaluating the processing option of introducing an
iron/titanium feed into the Sidney Steel Corporation processing plant, currently
under management of Hoogovens Technical Services. Royal Dutch Hoogovens
has recently announced plans to merge with British Steel, with the resulting
company representing the world's third largest steel manufacturer.
(c) Copyright 1999 Canjex Publishing Ltd. canada-stockwatch.com
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