96% Cu Recovery IN Column Bioleach Amenability Tests Performed ON Haib Copper Mineralized Material from Namibia
Suite 162, 2912 West Broadway, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6K 0E9
Tel : 604-340-0140. E-mail : [email protected]
Web site: http://www.deepsouthresources.com
96% CU RECOVERY IN COLUMN BIOLEACH AMENABILITY
TESTS PERFORMED ON HAIB COPPER MINERALIZED
MATERIAL FROM NAMIBIA
Vancouver, B.C., Canada – November 26, 2019 – Deep-South Resources Inc.
("Deep-South" or “the Company") (TSX-V: DSM) announces results from
microbial-assisted column leach amenability tests performed on stockpile material
from the Haib Copper Project in Namibia. The test work program is managed by
METS Engineering of Australia and undertaken by Mintek in South Africa.
Bioleach test work results summary:
Two tons of feed material was collected for the test work . The samples were
removed from a stockpile extracted from an adit dug in the higher grade area of the
main Haib deposit. The samples have not been weathered and are considered
representative of the sulphide mineralized material at Haib.
Six 1 metre bioleach amenability columns have been initiated at Mintek on -4.75 mm,
-3.35 mm and -2.36 mm mineralized material. Copper dissolutions of 89% to 96%
were obtained after 140 days. Copper dissolution profiles based on solid head and
solution assays are presented below:
Figure 1. Columns copper dissolution profiles
It is important to note that the leaching is still active and that the results are not final
until the leaching will have terminated. The final results will be calculated from the
assays of the solid residues at the end of the program and will serve to confirm the
final recoveries, after completion of the copper mass balances.
Mr John Akwenye, Chairman of Deep-South stated that: “These results are
exceptional. The bio-assisted leaching results c ombined with grade
upgrading mineral sorting results, HPGR and agg lomeration are highly
promising and demonstrate that we are on the right path to extract the metal
at Haib and develop the project ahead.”
The Haib head assay for the column tests revealed 0.73% copper, 3.7% sulfur with
minor elements and the balance 28.4% silica. There are no deleterious elements.
The mineralogy of the milled Haib feed revealed that 98.5% of the total copper
content occurred as chalcopyrite, 1% as bornite, and less than 0.5% as chalcocite,
covellite, malachite and chrysocolla.
High Pressure Grinding Roll (HPGR) optimisation tests demonstrated that the hard
Haib mineralized material is amenable to HPGR. A pressure of 60 bar is deemed
suitable as the particle size distribution was not reduced once the pressure
exceeded this value.
The mineralized material agglomerated without any issues. Heap leaching relies on the
ability of the leaching solution to penetrate through the mound, around the mineralized
material particles. When the mineralized material is not agglomerated, fine particles may
vary in size and shape, reducing the ability of the solution to percolate efficiently through
the heap, as smaller fines clog the spaces between larger fines. An agglomeration drum
was used to agglomerate the mineralized material and increase uniformity, making it
easier for the leaching solution to percolate through the channels between particles to
help maximize copper dissolution.
Based on those excellent results, Deep-South is now planning the road map to the
development of the project. At the terminatiion of the current metallurgical test work, the
first step will be to update the Preliminary Economic Assessment (“PEA”) completed in
February 2018.
Qualified Person
Damian E.G. Connelly, BSc (Applied Science), FAusIMM, CP (Met), Director of Mineral
Engineering Technical Services is responsible for the technical part of this press release
and is the designated Qualified Person under the terms of National Instrument 43-101.
About Mintek:
Mintek is South Africa’s national mineral research organisation established in 1934
to assist in ensuring sustainable growth in the minerals and metal industries through
research, development & innovation (RDI).
The organisation has grown over the years into an internationally competitive, respected
research and development centre of metallurgical and mineral processing technologies.
Mintek’s Biotechnology Division has been involved in the development of tank and heap
bioleaching technologies for over 30 years. Mintek also specialises in hydrometallurgy,
including leaching, precipitation, solvent extraction and electrowinning . You can visit
Mintek at : https://www.mintek.co.za
About METS :
Established in 1988, Mineral Engineering Technical Services provides a range of
services in the fields of Minerals Processing, Hydrometallurgy and Pyrometallurgy.
METS is the engineering company that produced Deep-South’s Preliminary Economic
Assessment (PEA) disclosed on February 26, 2018. You can visit METS at :
https://www.metsengineering.com
About Deep-South Resources Inc.
Deep-South Resources Inc. is a mineral exploration company largely held by
Namibian shareholders and Management with 25% and Teck Resources Ltd with
28% of Deep-South share capital. Deep-South currently holds 100% of the Haib
Copper project in Namibia, one of the largest copper porphyry deposits in Africa.
Deep-South’s growth strategy is to focus on the exploration and development of
quality assets, in significant mineralized zones, close to infrastructure, in stable
countries.
This press release contains certain "forward -looking statements," as identified in Deep- South’s
periodic filings with Canadian Securities Regulators that involve a number of risks and uncertainties.
There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future
events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.Neither the TSX Venture
Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX
Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
More information is available by contacting Pierre Léveillé, President & CEO at
+1-819-340-0140 or at: [email protected] or
Paradox Public Relations at +1-514-341-0408.