Jameson Cell test work delivers improved metallurgical performance at Bravo’s Luanga project

Located in Brazil’s Carajás Mineral Province, Bravo Mining’s Luanga Project is a priority asset as the company advances its development. Following completion of the Preliminary Economic Assessment, additional metallurgical optimisation opportunities were identified, leading to the incorporation of Glencore Technology’s Jameson Cell into the test work programme.

The test work forms part of an ongoing metallurgical optimisation programme aimed at strengthening process performance as the project progresses through pre-feasibility.

Using the Jameson L150 test rig, laboratory-scale rougher flotation tests demonstrated that the Jameson Cell delivered materially higher recoveries at significantly lower mass pull compared with conventional flotation cells.

Platinum group metals recoveries improved by 5 – 10%, while nickel recoveries increased by 5 – 30%, alongside a reduction in mass pull of up to 50%.

"The preliminary Jameson Cell results are highly encouraging and reinforce the technical optionality available to Bravo as we advance our metallurgical studies. Incremental recovery improvements at higher concentrate grades would be beneficial for potential future flotation plant economics, downstream processing efficiencies, and the economics of shipping and selling a PGM concentrate. Improved metallurgical performance also enhances the potential of the optional vertically integrated project scenario", said Luis Azevedo, Chairman and CEO.

This combination indicates the potential to produce higher-grade concentrates with lower concentrate tonnage, which could positively impact operating costs, concentrate payabilities, and overall project economics.

The improved performance was observed across platinum, palladium, gold, and nickel and is linked to the high-intensity air–slurry interaction characteristic of the Jameson Cell, which is particularly effective for fine-grained mineralisation known to be present at Luanga. These results exceeded those previously generated using traditional laboratory flotation cells.

"It is comforting to know that the Jameson Cell has been reported to be successful in large-scale mines, such as Valterra's Mogalakwena PGM mine in South Africa and the Mt. Isa Cu mine in Australia, making its application to Luanga's potential 10Mtpa run-of-mine technically supportable and appropriate. While still early-stage, these outcomes support continued evaluation of the Jameson Cell technology to a level of confidence acceptable for future studies and, if proven feasible, could improve concentrate grade, and reduce the CAPEX and OPEX associated with the flotation plant. Combined with a backdrop of rising PGM prices, this bodes well for Bravo's potential future development outcomes" Azevedo concluded.

Read the article online at: https://www.globalminingreview.com/mining/14052026/jameson-cell-test-work-delivers-improved-metallurgical-performance-at-bravos-luanga-project/