European Metals Holdings Ltd. (ASX : EMH) has announced the completion of metallurgical testing at the Cinovec Tin Project in the Czech Republic, with results suggesting potential tin recoveries of 80%. Additionally, 98% recovery of lithium by flotation to concentrate has been demonstrated from tailings produced by the gravity separation methods used in recovery of tin.
European Metals CEO Mr Keith Coughlan said “The program confirms that Cinovec ore can be treated using a very simple, proven and well -understood technology for upgrading tin-tungsten mineralisation.” Mr Coughlan also noted that the “initial lithium testwork results are very encouraging. The potential positive impact from this program on the economics of the Cinovec Project cannot be understated as the revenue from lithium and potash could potentially exceed that of the tin and tungsten.”
The Cinovec project, with a total inferred resource of 28.1Mt of ore at 0.37% Sn, or 103,970 tonnes of contained tin, is one of the largest undeveloped tin deposits in the world. The project also incorporates an inferred lithium resource of 36.9Mt at 0.8% Li2O. Additional by-product potential exists in the presence of tungsten, lithium, rubidium, scandium, niobium and tantalum. The deposit is well suited to bulk mining techniques and has strong community support due to its presence in an active mining area.
The project received US$190,000 of funding for metallurgical testing through the EU backed Flexible And Mobile Economic (FAME) processing technologies project, which is promoting the sustainable development of ore minerals in Europe and is funded through the EU’s Horizon 2020 scheme. The remaining components of the scoping study are currently underway, with completion targeted by the end of the quarter.
