Forsys Metals has completed metallurgical test work to support utilising heap leaching to recover uranium at Norasa.
The Norasa Uranium Project is wholly owned by Forsys Metals’ 100% subsidiary, Valencia Uranium (Pty) Ltd.
It comprises the Valencia uranium deposits held under ML-149 and the Namibplaas uranium deposit under EPL-3638, application for ML-251, in the Erongo region.
The company has also completed details of its work plan for further optimising heap leach conditions and ore-sorting testwork.
According to an update released on Tuesday, uranium extraction rates of up to 87% crushed with a conventional cone crusher, average solids and solution-based recovery were achieved within a leach cycle time of 30 days or less.
Based on operational parameters, sulphuric acid consumption ranges from 17 kg/t to 38 kg/t.
“This recovery rate is on par with that achieved by similar operations with comparable ore types,” Forsys Metals says.
The company added that with the integration of higher irrigation rates, binder addition and grind size adjustments, there is an opportunity to optimise the baseline parameters, enhancing leach kinetics, reagent addition and recovery rates.
There are plans for extensive follow-up test work targeting primary focus areas, including additional column tests to assess high-pressure grinding rolls crushed product, acid consumption, irrigation rate, and leach duration, to achieve an optimal uranium dissolution rate.
“Literature indicates between 4% to 6% increased metal extractions in heap leach operations with high-pressure grinding rolls crushing,” Forsys Metals adds.
As part of this follow-up test work, ore amenability for bulk ore sorting will be assessed to upgrade material before leaching to enhance recoveries, expedite cash flow, and bolster project economics.
Forsys is initiating the next phase of the test work programme along with ongoing optimisation efforts.
The key workstreams will include two further phases of column leach tests at SGS Laboratories in South Africa with ongoing mineralogical analysis to complete the data evaluation.
These follow-up testing phases aim to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of extracting the uranium mineralisation from ore samples with a broader head grade range.
The programme is designed to test a range of leaching variables, including crushing by high-pressure grinding rolls, to assess the impact of the particle cracking effect on exposing increased mineral surface area for improved leaching.
Column work to date has shown higher uranium grades in coarser fractions of the residue, indicating the majority of mineralisation in the fines has been leached.
Physical leaching variables will also be tested to optimise leach conditions.
A box cut is planned as part of the programme, enabling access to an adequate mass of bulk fresh ore material for extensive scale column leach testing to inform process design.
In May 2024, Forsys Metals country director Pine van Wyk said the comprehensive work done over the last 12 months on the Norasa Uranium Project has created a solid foundation to advance project development.
