ASX-listed West Africa bauxite hopeful, Lindian Resources, has started the next significant phase of technical analysis at its Gaoual bauxite project in Guinea as it looks to tackle the relatively high content of the impurity silica in the high-grade conglomerate deposit. The Perth-based company has just sent its geological crew to the project site to carry out all-important screening tests on Gaoual’s aluminium oxide ore.
A maiden resource estimate for Gaoual of 101.5 million tonnes was delivered by Lindian more than four months ago. The indicated resource was graded at an average 49.8 per cent aluminium oxide and 11.5 per cent silica and included a higher-grade component of 84 million tonnes at an impressive grade of 51.2 per cent aluminium oxide. According to the company, the resource occurs at surface meaning it would be readily mineable and culminate in minimal overburden.
Although Gaoual contains higher levels of the impurity silica than other bauxite resources in the region, metallurgical test work carried out around the same time showed the deposit’s silica content is predominantly fine-grained quartz.
Lindian indicated that simple screening could significantly reduce the silica content, effectively raising the aluminium oxide content with minimal loss of tonnage.
The company says the current follow-up tests being undertaken at the Gaoual bauxite project site involve a series of dry and wet screening, with samples to be shipped to a laboratory for further analysis and metallurgical test work.
Generally, the more silica in the bauxite, the higher the amount of caustic soda used in the refining process and the higher the loss of alumina.
Earlier this month, Lindian received Guinean Government approval for the acquisition of a 75 per cent interest in the mammoth Lelouma bauxite project in Guinea, giving it a triumvirate of bauxite assets in the mature Guinea bauxite jurisdiction.
Lelouma hosts a measured, indicated and inferred resource of 900 million tonnes going 45 per cent aluminium oxide and 2.1 per cent silica including a higher-grade component of 398 million tonnes at 48.1 per cent aluminium oxide.
It lies approximately 40km east of the Gaoual conglomerate bauxite project, with both projects located within trucking distance of established road, rail and port infrastructure.
Lindian is eyeing a possible near-term pathway to production via its smaller Woula bauxite project – not far from the Guinean coast and also in close proximity to existing infrastructure – as part of a low CAPEX growth and development strategy.
An inferred mineral resource estimate of 19 million tonnes at 41.7 per cent aluminium oxide and 3.2 per cent silica has been published for Woula, which is situated only 60km road haulage distance from an export terminal.
The company says it is weighing up the merits of an initial one million tonnes per annum direct shipping ore operation at Woula and would consider a joint venture partnership or investments from industry participants to help it build a mine there.
According to Lindian, development of and production at Woula could represent the first stage towards an expansion plan incorporating the Gaoual and Lelouma projects.
With a track record among the company’s management of advancing bauxite projects in Guinea to construction, it is a case of watch this space …
Is your ASX listed company doing something interesting? Contact: matt.birney@businessnews.com.au
