African Eagle to commission scoping study at Tanzania nickel project
miningweekly.com
By: Esmarie Swanepoel
24th March 2009
JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Diversified mineral exploration company African Eagle Resources has received the final results of acid leach tests and mineralogical analyses on drill samples from its Dutwa nickel laterite project, in Tanzania.
The leach test results showed high nickel extractions, averaging 83% on a solid basis, and very low sulphuric acid consumption, averaging 210 kg/t. These compared favourably with laterite deposits elsewhere in the world, the company stated on Tuesday.
"We are delighted with these results. Dutwa is a unique deposit, with unusual mineralogy, which results in high nickel recovery with exceptionally low-acid consumption. This bodes very well for commercial development, as the ore should be amenable to tank or heap leaching at atmospheric pressure. Either technology can be implemented at relatively low capital cost,” said African Eagle MD Mark Parker.
“We will now commission a scoping study to assess the viability of the project and indicate the best way to proceed. We are currently evaluating bids and expect to award the contract in the next few days. We then expect to commence a second phase of metallurgical test work to evaluate the heap and tank leaching nickel-cobalt extraction technology options in greater detail,” Parker added.
In November 2008, African Eagle Resources announced a joint ore reserves committee compliant resource at Dutwa of 31-million tons at 1,1% nickel and 0,034% cobalt, containing 340 000 t of nickel and 11 000 t of cobalt. |
