Looks like we are making a mine ASAP!
High grade concentrate to the smelter seems assured and of high quality with minimal environmental impact. The only questions remaining are how big and how profitable.
Press release:
Selkirk Metals Corp.: Excellent Metallurgical Results Enhances the Potential of Ruddock Creek Project
Thursday December 6, 7:00 am ET
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Dec. 6, 2007) - Selkirk Metals Corp. ("Selkirk" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE:SLK - News) is pleased to provide a summary of the excellent results from the initial metallurgical testing of the Ruddock Creek Project mineralization. SGS Mineral Services located in Lakefield, Ontario completed the metallurgical test work.
The Sulphide composition of the Ruddock Creek Project in descending order of quantity is sphalerite, pyrrhotite, pyrite, galena and chalcopyrite. The metallurgical samples were separated into three areas for testing, the E-Zone, Deep E-Zone and the Creek Zone.
In summary the following results were obtained:
- The specific gravity of the three mineralized zones averaged 2.97 g/cm3.
- The Bond Work Index ranged from 13.7-14.1kWh/T using a 100 mesh (150 microns) closing size, which is an average value for a typical base metal deposit.
- Heavy Liquid Separation (HLS) for pre-concentration of sulphide bearing rock separate from the barren gangue rocks at a -3/8 inch crush size at a specific gravity of 2.7 g/cm3 rejected 34% of the barren mass with metal losses of only 1% lead and 0.03% of the zinc.
- Release analyses indicated favorable liberation characteristics for galena especially sphalerite compared to the global SGS database for polymetallic ores. This indicates coarse primary and regrinding will yield positive metallurgy.
- Heavy Liquid pre-concentration followed by flotation testing of the E-Zone yielded a recovery of 90.4% to a concentrate grade of 63.2% lead, and a zinc recovery of 86.1% to a concentrate grade of 46.1% zinc.
- Flotation testing of the Deep E-Zone yielded a lead recovery of 94% to a concentrate grade of 68.8% lead and a zinc recovery 94% to a concentrate grade of 46.1%. SGS states that with additional testing there is potential for zinc recoveries in the range of 90% with a concentrate grade of approximately 50%.
- The silver content of the lead concentrate was 362 g/t which should provide a credit from the smelter.
These results indicate that a standard flotation process will produce excellent concentrates for sale to a smelter and indicates the potential of using the dense medium separation to reduce the mill capacity and increase the grade to the mill with this simple pre-treatment process. This will reduce capital and operating costs and reduce the impact of the operation of the environment.
The Company is now planning the next phase of testing which will include waste and ore humidity cell testing, tailings and waste rock classification, process water attributes and several different types of tailings disposal systems.
The results from the metallurgical testing combined with the excellent ground conditions and rock quality of the ore indicate that the proposed Ruddock Creek development will be a minimal impact operation. This has encouraged the Company to immediately commence the B.C. Environmental Assessment process and project permitting.
The Ruddock Creek Project has now progressed into year round operations that are expected to continue into mining operations as the Project expands. Operations on the Ruddock Creek Property are being conducted under the supervision of the Company's Qualified Persons (as defined by NI 43-101), Jim Miller-Tait, P.Geo., Vice President of Exploration and Tom Colbourne, P.Eng., Vice President of Mining. The Ruddock Creek Property is located 100 km north-northwest of Revelstoke in the Kamloops and Revelstoke Mining Divisions, British Columbia.
On Behalf of the Board of Directors of Selkirk Metals Corp.:
Gordon Keevil, President
Contact:
Gordon Keevil
Selkirk Metals Corp.
President
(604) 687-2038
(604) 687-3141 (FAX)
Website: www.selkirkmetals.com
Source: Selkirk Metals Corp.
The SEC Must Go!
And jail shorters.
