Name of the Project
Prieska zinc/copper project.

Location
The project is located 270 km south-west of Kimberley, in the Northern Cape, South Africa.

Client
Orion Minerals.

Project Description
The Prieska zinc/copper deposit has been recorded as one of the world’s top 30 volcanogenic massive sulphide deposits.

The mine was operated from 1971 to 1991, after which it was closed and the site rehabilitated.

Initial metallurgical testwork at the proposed project has yielded positive results, demonstrating Prieska’s potential to produce high-quality marketable zinc and copper concentrates.

The results confirm that the remaining Prieska mineralisation, intersected to date, also responds well to metal concentration using froth flotation and recoveries, which might match or exceed historical performance.

Optimised rougher flotation conditions to produce differentiated copper and zinc concentrates from the deep sulphide target have also been determined, as have preliminary rougher conditions to produce a bulk copper and zinc concentrate from the shallow 105 Level target (openpit). Historical rougher flotation conditions have been improved through varying reagent dosages and supplementary modern reagents. 

The resultant rougher products are well suited to upgrading in cleaner circuits to produce saleable products. Cleaner flotation testwork is continuing. 

Orion MD and CEO Errol Smart has indicated that the project will likely comprise an openpit and underground operation, with the openpit to produce ore, while the underground operations are dewatered and re-established.

The baseline project that Orion is evaluating envisages the mine producing about 100 000 t/m. 

This rate would translate into 12 000 t/y to 15 000 t/y of copper concentrate and 20 000 t/y to 25 000 t/y of zinc concentrate – consistent with the mine’s historical output.

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
None stated.

Value
Not stated.

Duration
The project could start production by 2020. The project timeline envisages the completion of a Joint Ore Reserves Committee- (Jorc-) compliant resource estimate by the first quarter of 2018, the lodging of a mining right application in the second quarter, feasibility study results by the fourth quarter and the start of construction of the plant in mid-2019. 

The proposed underground operation will likely start production by 2022.

Latest Developments
Orion Minerals is on track to complete its bankable feasibility study on the Prieska zinc/copper project by the end of the year.

Meanwhile, the company has reported positive assay results from a further 13 drilled intersections at the project.

Further, 68 intersections, including 12 intersections drilled for metallurgical testwork, have been completed in the deep sulphide target since May 2017.

There are currently 18 diamond drill rigs deployed for infill drilling to increase sample density in the deep sulphide mineral resource to achieve an updated mineral resource estimate.

“Feasibility work, including provisional mine development layouts, are reaching advanced stages and await the final block model, which will be finalised when drilling is completed,” CEO Errol Smart has said in a statement.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
None stated.

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
Orion Minerals, tel +61 3 8080 7170, fax +61 3 8080 7174 or email info@orionminerals.com.au.