Akora Resources generates high-grade iron ore fines product from Bekisopa ore
Minimal processing has produced a 65.5% iron product from massive iron mineralisation at Bekisopa.
Testing of drill samples from a 2020 program at Akora Resources’ (ASX: AKO) flagship Bekisopa project in Madagascar has shown a high-grade iron ore fines product can be produced.
Evaluation of composite samples from both massive and coarse disseminated iron mineralisation types has revealed an average grade of 62.8% iron can be generated using only minimal processing.
The 62.8% iron also has low phosphorous, silica and alumina impurities.
Testing on massive iron mineralisation using light processing produced an average 65.5% iron produce with low impurities.
“These Bekisopa results continue to demonstrate its potential to deliver a high-grade iron ore product without the need for excessive processing,” Akora managing director Paul Bibby said.
“In fact, the deliverable product grade looks likely to compete with the grades of the best iron ore products globally, magnetite or hematite.”
Mr Bibby noted that a project economics depends on the grade of the product delivered and the costs in producing that material.
“Due to the unique nature of the iron mineralisation and the simple, minimal processing required to achieve a saleable product will make our product very attractive to steel makers.”
Mr Bibby added the project also hosts outcropping material – indicating potential for a lump iron or product as well as high-grade iron ore fines.
Bekisopa iron ore project
Test work was undertaken on samples from 12-holes of a drilling program totalling 1,095.5m completed in December last year.
Notable intercepts from that program were 6.9m at 64.7% iron from surface, 13.6m at 63.5% iron from surface, 25.2m at 61.4% iron from surface, and 70.5m at 44.1% iron from surface.
The project appears to host three distinct types of iron ore mineralisation across 6km of strike and at depth.
As well as Bekisopa, Akora owns the Tratramarina and Ambodilafa iron ore projects, which are also in Madagascar.
All-up the three projects total 308 square kilometres.