- 0112-month path to flotation at Tecomatlán.
- 02Flotation-led flowsheet boosts Sb recovery.
- 03Hub-and-spoke: regional ore; >50% nameplate secured.
EV Resources (ASX: EVR) has announced an estimated 12-month timeline for completion of direct-to-flotation processing and operation from third-party antimony feeds at its Tecomatlán plant in Mexico.
The development strategy combines the plant’s original Stage 1 gravity-only circuit and Stage 2 flotation circuit into a single integrated build using ore from regional producers secured under non-binding agreements.
The new timeline supersedes the company’s earlier year-end target for completion of the gravity-only circuit.
The change aims to produce a much higher-value concentrate from enhanced recovery processes, resulting in significantly improved economics based on internal assessments.
Hub-and-Spoke Facility
The Tecomatlán plant is designed to operate as a hub-and-spoke facility, sourcing ore from diversified antimony miners across Puebla, Oaxaca, and Guerrero.
The model is reported to offer a compelling alternative to other smelters in the region which can be located up to 1,200 kilometres away resulting in significant transport costs to miners.
EV has already signed non-binding agreements for the ore required, which the company is currently advancing discussions to fully secure.
The monthly amount of ore sourced for the plant under these deals would cover over 50% of Tecomatlán’s nameplate capacity, with additional contracts also being pursued to increase potential throughput.
Tecomatlán Flowsheet
EV Resources announced a revised flowsheet for Tecomatlán last month following metallurgical test work on ore from the nearby Chinantla antimony project which confirmed that a flotation-led route could recover 81% of contained antimony at grades of 42.4%.
Gravity-only test work by comparison, recovered just 29.25% contained antimony with grades of 20.54%.
The company has committed to advancing the gravity circuit to preserve processing optionality across different ore types, allowing Tecomatlán to act as a pilot plant for mixed-state ore from the flagship Los Lirios project, located 50km from Tecomatlán.
Gravity-only test work at Los Lirios returned recoveries up to 90.8% antimony and grades of as high as 36%.
The integrated flotation upgrade is expected to support near-term production objectives while delivering superior recoveries with minimal additional capital expenditure and schedule impact.
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