Sky Metals Achieves 13-Fold Tin Grade Boost in Ore Sorting at Tallebung
Sky Metals (ASX: SKY) has reported exceptional bulk ore sorting results from its Tallebung tin project in central New South Wales, with test work delivering a 13-fold uplift in tin grade.
The company processed more than 75 tonnes of bulk samples through a full-scale TOMRA XRT ore sorter, achieving strong recoveries and significant mass reduction—even in highly weathered surface mineralisation.
Management said the outcome confirms the scalability of prior test work and highlights the potential to cut future capital and operating costs.
Grade Uplift from Bulk Sampling
The two-stage ore sorting program delivered a number of standout results.
Stage 1 sorting upgraded tin from 0.17% to 2.32% with a recovery of 94.8%, while Stage 2 further boosted grade to 10.8% tin at a 70% recovery.
Importantly, the first stage rejected more than 93% of mass, pointing to substantial reductions in processing volumes for any future mining operation.
Silver also increased from 7.44 grams per tonne to 75.9g/t with an 80% recovery, while tungsten showed strong potential as a valuable by-product.
‘Scalability and Reliability’
Sky’s managing director Oliver Davies described the results as a major milestone for the project.
“Achieving strong grade upgrades and high recoveries in a large bulk sample confirms and improves on the past test work, while further demonstrating the scalability and reliability of our ore sorting strategy,” Mr Davies said.
He added that the test work demonstrates the potential to materially reduce capital and operating costs while maintaining excellent recoveries.
ALS Ore Separation Trials
The fines and waste from ore sorting will now undergo dense medium separation trials at ALS Perth, followed by pilot-scale gravity processing at ALS Burnie.
The program aims to produce a saleable tin concentrate that will support offtake discussions with potential downstream partners.
Sky said further drilling results are expected soon, with the combined data set to accelerate Tallebung towards development.
About the Tallebung Project
Tallebung is an open-pit, technology-enabled development project located on the site of historic large-scale tin mining in central New South Wales.
The deposit hosts large, discrete cassiterite grains ideally suited to ore sorting, with prior work already demonstrating upgrades of up to 44 times before gravity separation.
Sky said the shallow vein system and strong metallurgical performance position Tallebung as a low-cost, near-term tin development opportunity.