Revolver Resources confirms potential to produce A-grade copper cathode on-site at Dianne
Dianne has a maiden resource of 1.62Mt at 1.1% copper for 18,000t of contained copper metal.
Process engineering work at the historic Dianne copper project in north Queensland has outlined the potential for Revolver Resources (ASX: RRR) to produce A-grade copper cathode on-site.
The work was done using a purpose-built solvent extraction and electrowinning (SX-EW) processing facility at site and was able to demonstrate a site-based solution for the production of the A-grade material.
Initial engineering design for the facility forms the central piece to evaluations into the possibility of re-commencing operations at Dianne, which remains the highest-grade copper mine in Australia’s history.
The potential to process ore on-site removes the reliance on multiple processing solutions as well as any reliance on direct shipped ore deliveries or transport of any concentrate products.
Compelling upside potential
Revolver managing director Pat Williams said the company’s work on the Dianne project re-start keeps delivering “very compelling upside potential” for shareholders.
“The preliminary results from this process design study illustrate how a small-scale plant can lead to the production of copper on site,” he said.
“A simple application of proven technology brings the potential for a lower project execution risk profile as well as a short construction duration.”
Mr Williams said the Revolver team has delivered a “remarkable foundation” for adding significant value to the company.
“We are now faced with outstanding exploration discovery potential at the Osprey and Dianne projects, and we have prioritised our activities to further investigate the near-term production potential at Dianne,” he said.
Historic project
The historic Dianne project comprises six mining leases and three exploration permits across a land area of 545 square kilometres.
The project commenced development in 1979 with a small-scale underground and open pit mine which operated until 1983 when mining was suspended.
Production over a four-year period from the chalcocite-enriched sulphide mineralisation within the massive zone totalled 63,758 tonnes of high-grade direct shipping ore at an average grade of 22.7% copper.
Revolver’s process engineering and design work aims to conceptualise the development of an expansion to the historic open pit and evaluate the option to treat mined oxide ore and sulphide through the commissioning of small-scale heap leach SX-EW infrastructure.
Mr Williams said the work would act as a precursor to a more comprehensive scoping study for the global Dianne mineral resource.