Preliminary, unoptimised testing at JSE- and ASX-listed Southern Palladium’s Bengwenyama platinum group metals (PGMs) project, in the Bushveld Complex of South Africa, indicates that the Bengwenyama Upper Group Two (UG2) reef can be treated using conventional methods.
Initial metallurgical test work results at the project indicate that metallurgical recoveries of between 80% and 85%, with concentrate grades of 130 g/t to 250 g/t platinum, palladium, rhodium and gold can be obtained.
Test work to further enhance recoveries will be undertaken as part of a prefeasibility study.
A mineral resource update is also expected to be released shortly.
A scoping study for the Bengwenyama project is now under way, with the results scheduled for release in January 2024.
“Significant progress has been achieved in understanding the metallurgy of the UG2 orebody. Preliminary testing suggests that ore from the UG2 reef can be effectively treated with recoveries ranging from 80% to 85% through conventional methods that are used across the Bushveld Complex, and therefore aligning with industry.
“Metallurgical recoveries from the UG2 reef at operations on the Eastern Limb range between 81% and 88%. We believe there should be strong commercial interest in sourcing concentrate of this quality from PGM smelters in South Africa,” MD Johan Odendaal says.