Pivotal Metals Announces Promising Copper Recovery Results at Horden Lake
PVT (PVT) Share Update December 2024 Sunday 1st
Pivotal Metals Achieves Up to 90% Copper Recovery at Horden Lake
Pivotal Metals Limited (ASX: PVT) has announced promising preliminary metallurgical results from its Horden Lake Project in Quebec, highlighting excellent copper recoveries and significant byproduct contributions.
Instant Summary:
- 85% to 90% copper recovery achieved.
- Copper concentrate grades between 25% to 30%.
- Significant byproduct contributions from precious metals.
- Conventional flotation flowsheet established.
- Further testwork and EM survey in progress.
Overview of the Horden Lake Project
The Horden Lake Project, located in Quebec, Canada, is a copper-dominant development with additional nickel, gold, silver, and platinum group metals (PGM) potential. Quebec's mining-friendly environment, with over 20 operating mines and access to low-cost green hydropower, provides a strategic advantage for Pivotal Metals.
The project hosts an Indicated and Inferred Mineral Resource Estimate of 28 million tonnes at 1.5% copper equivalent (CuEq), supported by extensive drilling and recent geophysical surveys. Pivotal Metals has completed its maiden diamond drilling campaign, confirming an expanding mineralized envelope and providing samples for metallurgical testing.
Preliminary Metallurgical Results
The preliminary results from the metallurgical testwork demonstrate that Horden Lake can produce a high-grade copper concentrate with recovery rates between 85% and 90%, using conventional flotation techniques. The presence of fast-floating chalcopyrite and the absence of deleterious elements are promising indicators for future production.
In addition to copper, the tests revealed good recoveries of precious metals, including 55% gold, 50% silver, and 38% palladium, which significantly enhance the value of the copper concentrate. Further recoveries are anticipated in the nickel circuit.
Next Steps and Future Prospects
Pivotal Metals is continuing to optimize the flowsheet, particularly focusing on the nickel circuit. Additional testwork, including locked cycle tests, is scheduled over the next two months to refine the process and improve recovery rates. An electromagnetic (EM) survey is also underway to explore the full potential of the Horden Lake property.
The company plans to release further testwork results in the first quarter of 2025, providing more insights into the project's development potential.
The positive metallurgical results bolster Pivotal Metals' development prospects at Horden Lake, potentially increasing investor confidence and stock value. The high copper recovery rates and byproduct contributions align with market demands, particularly given forecasts of copper deficits.
Investor Reaction:
Analysts are likely to view these results favorably, as they enhance the project's economic viability. The absence of deleterious elements and the presence of valuable byproducts could attract further investment interest.
Conclusion:
Investors should watch for upcoming testwork results and EM survey findings, which could further enhance the project's value proposition. Pivotal Metals' strategic developments at Horden Lake position the company well in the critical minerals market.