Diamond Fields Resources Inc. has provided an update on its Beravina hard-rock zircon project in Madagascar.
As set out in the announcement of Feb. 7, 2018, the company commissioned consultants SGS South Africa, Hatch and the MSA Group to conduct analyses of the Beravina mineralization, minerology, metallurgy and other deposit characteristics in advance of an intended drill program.
The work program reviewed the independent 2012 JORC-compliant (Joint Ore Reserves Committee) (but not compliant with National Instrument 43-101) indicated mineral resource estimate of 1.8 million tonnes at 29.5 per cent zircon undertaken by Badger Mining and Consulting Pty. Ltd. and reassayed historical drill core samples, which is expected to result in the production of an NI 43-101-compliant resource statement by the end of 2018.
The work program also reviewed a number of options for metallurgical and material processing from Beravina. This work included:
Test work to increase the understanding of how uranium and thorium are represented in the deposit as well as an assessment of the suitability of traditional separation technology for removing these elements;Test work to achieve higher concentrations of ZrO2 (zirconium dioxide) using standard heavy mineral separation processes; Test work to assess the extent to which contaminants can be removed through flotation.
- Test work to increase the understanding of how uranium and thorium are represented in the deposit as well as an assessment of the suitability of traditional separation technology for removing these elements;
- Test work to achieve higher concentrations of ZrO2 (zirconium dioxide) using standard heavy mineral separation processes;
- Test work to assess the extent to which contaminants can be removed through flotation.
The results showed that zircon can be concentrated to levels of between 50 per cent ZrO2 and 58 per cent ZrO2 with varying levels of thorium ingrained.
Further work anticipated in 2018 and 2019 is expected to include evaluation of additional processing techniques to improve concentrate grade and remove deleterious elements; market testing of various potential products; and a further drilling campaign (depending on positive market acceptance of the Beravina concentrates).
Qualified person
The metallurgical processing information contained in this press release has been reviewed and approved by John Derbyshire, PrEng, BScEng (chemical), FSAIMM, who is an independent qualified person as identified by NI 43-101.
Diamond Fields Resources is a TSX Venture Exchange-listed exploration and mine development company with assets in Madagascar and Namibia. In Madagascar, Diamond Fields Resources is developing the Beravina project, an advanced high-grade zircon exploration prospect located in the west of the country, approximately 220 kilometres east of the port of Maintirano and near a state road. In Namibia, Diamond Fields Resources is working with International Mining and Dredging Holdings Pty. Ltd. to start an initial six-month (non-continuous) offshore diamond mining program on the ML 111 licence area in 2018.
