Castillo Copper Ltd (LSE:CCZ, ASX:CCZ) has released results of metallurgical testwork on the Big One copper project in Australia.
Samples extracted from drill-hole BO_318RC produced a concentrate with confirmed upgrades ranging from five-times to ten-times for copper metal.
Further testwork is underway on samples from the Big One Deposit to determine the final optimal results.
The Big One deposit has already been significantly de-risked, as the current inferred resource estimate stands at 21,886 tonnes of contained copper metal, from 2.1mln tonnes of ore grading 1.1%.
Current forward plans include undertaking a third drilling campaign to extend the known mineralisation by focusing on a sizeable known bedrock conductor north of the line of lode.
Geophysical surveys will also be undertaken to identify fresh targets.
Meanwhile, metallurgical testwork for cobalt on drill-core samples taken from The Sisters prospect in Broken Hill is underway, and results are due shortly.
“The board is delighted with the preliminary metallurgical test-work results, especially with the beneficiation potentially transforming the ore from the Big One Deposit into a viable copper concentrate,” said Dr Dennis Jensen, managing director of Castillo Copper.
“Moreover, receiving these initial results now is timely as the board is now ramping up efforts to secure a processing agreement and clear path to market.”