All standard optical-mechanical separation methods have proven to be effective
Australian copper explorer American West (ASX: AW1; FRA: R84) has demonstrated the effectiveness of low-cost, chemical-free and anhydrous processing methods for a commercial copper concentrate at its Storm Copper Project on Somerset Island in Nunavut. Metallurgical studies and tests on representative mineralization from the Cyclone and Chinook deposits have successfully produced commercially viable Direct Shipping Ore (DSO) products. All standard optical-mechanical separation methods have proven to be effective. In particular, a dual circuit with ore sorting and Inline Pressure Jig (IPJ) (see Figure 1) produces DSO concentrate grades with excellent copper recoveries.
Modeled production at 1.2% Cu to 1.5% Cu feed grade at the Cyclone and Chinnok deposits yield a 16-22% Cu concentrate. While the ore sorting process has shown to be capable to produce concentrates as high as 60 % Cu the range 16-22% Cu has been found to deliver the best outcome regarding capital investment for the DSO facilities and operating cost. The studies are neither scoping studies nor feasibility studies. The primary results of the studies will initially be used by American West for internal purposes only to make strategic decisions on the Storm copper project.
The effectiveness of DSO processing methods delivers excellent results from an ESG perspective with a very small environmental footprint and zero harmful elements. Infill and extension drilling will continue to produce an updated Mineral Resource estimate well above the current JORC Code 2012 MRE of 17.5Mt @ 1.2% Cu, 3.4g/t Ag (205kt Cu, 1.9Mt Ag). The experts believe that the DSO process can be easily optimized to achieve even higher production rates and even better concentrate grades.
Dave O’Neill, Managing Director of American West Metals, commented: “We are very pleased to announce an important milestone for the Storm Copper Project with the spectacular results of the DSO processing study. The program has produced commercial grade DSO products from typical copper ores through a straightforward and cost-effective process. This is a first for the Storm project and leads the world in copper processing innovation and performance. The process of DSO generation at Storm is remarkably simple and underscores our company’s focus on developing ESG-sensitive and low-capital development solutions. Storm Copper now stands out as one of the few and highest quality DSO copper options in the world. Our results provide significant development, financing and permitting relief for the Storm project.”
Conclusion: Dave O'Neill, MD of American West, once described the confirmation of the DSO option for Storm as a "penny-drop moment" for investors. That moment has now arrived: although the available studies do not yet have the status of fixed feasibility studies, they already show that ore sorting of DSO material at the Storm copper project works extremely effectively. In separating waste rock from commercially viable ore, American West is taking advantage of the large differences in physical properties between the mineralized material and the waste rock. The dominant copper mineral within the Storm deposits is chalcocite. Chalcocite is a dark gray copper sulfide mineral with a Cu content of 79.8% and a specific gravity of 5.5-5.8. The surrounding dolomite bedrock is light gray/brown and has a specific gravity of 2.8-2.85. This favorable geology at the Storm project allows to shorten development time, reduce funding requirements and expedite permitting. In plain English, the result means that unlike most of its competitors, American West will most likely not need hundreds of millions of dollars to start a mining operation. A high ESG rating should also be assured for Storm's DSO material. This is good news for shareholders.
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