REG-Pensana Plc: Encouraging Sulima West Beneficiation Test Work Results

PensanaAnnouncement

14/05/2024 07:15

14 May 2024                            

THIS ANNOUNCEMENT CONTAINS INSIDER INFORMATION

 

Pensana Plc

("Pensana" or the "Company")

 

Encouraging Sulima West Beneficiation Test Work Results

 

Pensana (PRE) is pleased to provide an update on the beneficiation test work
on samples from the Sulima West deposit on the Coola exploration licence
located 75 kilometres north of Longonjo.

The test work is being undertaken to determine whether the mineralogy at
Sulima West is amenable to simple upgrading onsite, prior to transporting to
Longonjo for further processing.

The initial results on the samples tested are very encouraging. Both samples
tested show the potential for separation and upgrading to a high-grade
concentrate using simple magnetic and gravity processes.

Once the test work has been finalised a drill programme will be undertaken to
delineate the extent of the near surface mineralisation over the six-hectare
target area at Sulima West.

Highlights include:

·       The composite laterite sample graded 8.4% TREO (total rare
earth oxide) with 80% comprising magnetic iron and manganese oxides and 10%
REE (rare earth element) rich monazite.

·       Magnetic and gravity separation test work has been commissioned
with the target of producing a 50% TREO concentrate suitable for treatment at
Longonjo.

·       The apatite-maghemite sample graded 22% P2O5 (phosphate) and
was upgraded to 42.6% P2O5 using magnetic separation. Test work has been
commissioned with the aim of producing a commercially saleable >40% phosphate
concentrate.

Grant Hayward, Exploration Manager commented: "'These early results indicate
the potential for low-cost physical beneficiation of the Sulima West ore at
site, feeding the Longonjo processing plant with a high-grade rare earth
concentrate."

Sulima West Laterite

The Sulima West REE enriched laterite covers an area of approximately 6
hectares and has a surface expression defined by a strong soil anomaly grading
>3% TREO. The laterite has been sampled in four trenches and numerous pits of
4-6 metres deep, with all the pits ending in mineralisation.

Delineation drilling is required to fully evaluate the dimensions of the
laterite and will be undertaken based on the outcome of beneficiation test
work.

In late 2023, a 100-kilogram laterite sample was extracted from the wall of
Trench 1 over a width of 7 metres and bagged and freighted to Blu Sky Mining
laboratory in Pretoria, South Africa for test work.

The entire 100-kilogram laterite sample was homogenised and ground to 100%
passing 3.35 mm and 35-kilogram split off and stage ground to 80% passing 150
µm. Samples were screened into six size ranges, analysed for major and trace
elements, and PSD plots compiled. Three different size fractions were
submitted for QEMSCAN analysis.

The head grade of the laterite is 8.4% TREO, and the sample comprises 80%
goethite (iron oxide), psilomelane (manganese oxide) and other oxides, which
are all importantly paramagnetic. 10% of the sample comprises monazite which
is large and well liberated.

The monazite shows very little association with the goethite or psilomelane .
Other rare earth minerals identified are bastnaesite and florencite and gangue
minerals including fluorite, variscite and minor quartz.

Further ongoing test work commissioned involves magnetic separation to remove
the paramagnetic minerals to the magnetic fraction and then subject the
non-magnetic fraction containing the non-magnetic minerals (REE's, fluorite,
variscite, quartz, etc.) to further gravity test work to upgrade and recover
the monazite and bastnaesite with the aim of achieving a 50% TREO concentrate
grade.

The liberation of the monazite appears sufficient to continue with the current
grind. This REE concentrate will then be subject to bench scale test work to
see how it responds to the Longonjo flotation and hydrometallurgy regime.

Sulima West Apatite-Maghemite

The Sulima West apatite-maghemite (phosphate) sample was sourced from an
isolated, outcropping hill of this rock type, immediately to the northwest of
laterite area. The outcrop has a surface area of approximately 500 m2 and has
been exposed in two 5-6 metre, deep pits.

A 100-kilogram sample of this outcropping phosphate rock type was bagged and
freighted to South Africa for beneficiation test work. The entire sample was
homogenised and ground to 100% passing 3.35 mm and three grind sizes were
considered, 80% passing 1 mm, 80% passing 850 µm and 80% passing 500 µm. The
sample head grade is 21% P2O5. The sample comprises essentially Fe oxides
(55%) and apatite (42%) with minor rutile/ilmenite (2%).

Two beneficiation processes were considered, namely gravity (shaking table)
and magnetic separation (Carpco).

Gravity separation was not efficient to achieve a saleable P2O5 grade.
Magnetic separation achieved a >38% P2O5 grade at a good mass yield. 80%
passing 500 µm achieved the highest mass yield and grade after magnetic
separation, achieving a grade of 42.6% P2O5 and 34% mass yield. The La and Nd
upgraded to the phosphate concentrate.

Further ongoing test work commissioned involves milling a 50-kilogram sample
to 80% passing 500 µm and conducting WHIMS (wet high intensity magnetic
separation) test work to the milled sample to get a >38% P2O5 concentrate at
maximum yield. In addition, a 10-kilogram sample of apatite concentrate will
be produced for further mineralogical studies and for marketing purposes.

For further details please go to
https://pensana.co.uk/coola-exploration-project/ on the Pensana website.

 

The information contained within this announcement is considered by the
Company to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse
Regulations (EU) No.596/2014. Upon the publication of this announcement via a
Regulatory Information Service, this inside information will be considered to
be in the public domain. The person responsible for arranging for the release
of this announcement on behalf of the Company is Paul Atherley, Chairman.

 

-      ENDS -

 

 

For further information, please contact:

 

Shareholder/analyst enquiries:

Pensana Plc 

Paul Atherley, Chairman IR@pensana.co.uk 

Tim George, Chief Executive Officer

Rob Kaplan, Chief Financial Officer



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