Luca Mining (TSXV:LUCA; OTC:LUCMF; FRA:TSGA) of Vancouver has been testing the Jameson cell to boost recovery at its Campo Morado base and precious metals mine in Guerrero province, Mexico. The underground mine produces zinc and copper concentrates with payable gold and silver. It has a 20-year resource base.
In pilot-scale testing the Jameson cell technology, operating at micro-fine grinding levels, has significantly improved recoveries and concentrate grades across both copper and lead streams. There was also moderate improvement in the zinc stream and potential reduction in operating costs.
Historical testing demonstrated the ability of the Jameson cell to achieve final concentrate grades of between 13% to 28% copper, at excellent unit recoveries of between 70% and 90%. For reference, current copper recovery is approximately 51%, with a concentrate grade of 13% to 16% copper.
Luca’s recent Jameson pilot plant testing on feed to the first lead cleaner on test 17 returned a recovery of 70.74% lead resulting in a concentrate grade of 37.93% lead, which is a significant improvement from Luca’s past lead production. By comparison, average lead recoveries of 29% and concentrate grades of 22% lead were achieved by Luca during all of 2021.
Jameson cell pneumatic flotation pilot plant testing was first conducted at Campo Morado by former owner Nyrstar during 2014, but as a result of depressed metal prices in 2015, Nyrstar placed the operation into care and maintenance thereafter the mine was subsequently acquired by Luca.
To expand on this testing, Luca contracted Glencore Technologies to provide a second Jameson cell pilot plant. This operated for three months during 2022, testing increased recoveries in the zinc roughers and first stage lead cleaning, and subsequently successfully tested the ability to make a precious metals-rich pyrite concentrate from both historic and fresh tailings.
Further information on the principles of the Jameson Cell technology can be found here at GlencoreTechnology.com.
