Fireweed Zinc announces start of metallurgical and sorting work at Boundary prospect in Yukon

Fireweed Zinc Ltd (CVE:FWZ) (OTCMKTS:FWEDF) (FRA:20F) has kicked off metallurgical and sorting test work at the Boundary Zone prospect at its giant Yukon project in a bid to optimize potential future processing if a mine is developed.

The work includes assessing samples, which have been sorted via traditional methods and also modern sensor-based sorting, which is a proven technology deployed at many mines worldwide to upgrade mill-feed at low cost.

READ: Fireweed Zinc reports RC drill results from Tom and Jason deposits in Yukon

“This is an important step forward in realizing the economic potential of Boundary Zone,” said Brandon Macdonald, CEO at Fireweed.

“This is the first metallurgical test work conducted on Boundary Zone and will complement the metallurgical data we have on our Tom and Jason deposits. The full-scale ore sorting tests will determine if there is potential to increase mill feed grades while simultaneously improving grinding costs.

“The sorting tests on bulk samples using full-scale sorting equipment will be more robust than the bench-scale test work conducted in 2019. Flotation and grinding test work are being carried out on sorted and unsorted material to support both possible processing scenarios.

“Together, the metallurgical and sorting test work will give Fireweed holistic insight to help optimize the processing flowsheet for the Macmillan Pass project.”

Two identical 1.2 tonne samples of drill core were taken from two holes at the Boundary Zone Main for a total of 2.4 tonnes.

This will allow the comparison of two streams of test work, using one sample for ore sorting, and the other sample for unsorted flotation and grinding tests, said the company.

The ore sorting test work is being conducted by Steinert at their test facility in Germany and will be completed in June 2021.

A range of sensors will be tested including X-Ray Transmission (XRT), X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF), optical colour, laser surface, and electromagnetic induction.

Previous bench-scale ore sorting test work indicated that Boundary Zone material responded well to XRF sensors with potential to upgrade mill feed from 2.5% zinc to approximately 5% zinc with zinc recoveries of 80-85% at low cost, noted Fireweed.

Fireweed Zinc is advancing its district-scale 940 sq km Macmillan Pass project in Yukon, Canada, which is host to the Tom, Jason, Boundary Zone, and End Zone zinc-lead-silver deposits.

Tom and Jason already comprise a combined resource of 11.21 million tonnes (Mt) of higher confidence indicated resources at 9.61% zinc equivalent (ZnEq) and 6.59% zinc, 2.48% lead, 21.33 grams per ton (g/t) silver, and there is potential to expand this further.

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