(TheNewswire)
Montréal, Quebec – TheNewswire - March 06, 2023 – Sama Resources Inc. (“Sama” or the “Company”) (TSX V :SME ) ; ( OTC:SAMMF) is pleased to announce completion of the latestmetallurgical test program applying a modified process flowsheet toits Samapleu-Grata nickel (“ Ni ”), copper (“ Cu ”), cobalt(“ Co ”) and platinum group elements (“ PGE ”) Project inIvory Coast, West Africa. The latest metallurgical testwork comprisedenhanced Locked Cycle Tests (“ LCT” ) on composites from the Samapleu Mainand Grata deposits, and batch testing on a composite from the SamapleuExtension zone. This testwork was completed by Blue Coast Research Ltd (“ BCR ”), a leadingmetallurgical testing and consulting company based in Parksville,British Columbia.
Highlights:
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Composite samples from the Samapleu Main and SamapleuExtension zones, and from the Grata zone have all been tested using aslightly modified version of the treatment scheme described in the January 24, 2023 press release.
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The Samapleu Main and Grata composites were both testedin locked cycle mode, yielding:
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83% and 88% copper recoveries to copper concentrates assaying 26% copper grade and 27% copper grade, respectively.
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67% and 72% nickel recoveries to nickel concentrates, both assaying 13% grade nickel.
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51% and 61% cobalt recoveries to the nickel concentrates.
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60% palladiumrecovery to both concentrates, with most of the palladium reporting tothe nickel concentrate.
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47% and 62% platinum recovery to both concentrates, with most of the platinum alsoreporting to the nickel concentrate.
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Testwork on the Samapleu Extension compositedemonstrated the process to be applicable to the Extension zone aswell, though recoveries were lower. This composite yielded highconcentrate grades of both the base and the precious metals.
“The metallurgical testing at Blue Coast Researchcontinued improving the already excellent recoveries and concentrategrades using the Locked Cycle Tests. The high-grade nickel and copperconcentrates are very attractive and of great value which could befurther enhanced by the payable precious metals.” stated Dr. Marc-Antoine Audet, President & CEO of SamaResources Inc.
Flotation
A slightly refined version of the processing schemedescribed in the January 24, 2023 press release has now been applied to all three composites.This scheme relies entirely on flotation to produce direct saleableconcentrates without the need for any further on-site metallurgy. The scheme is widely used in the industry and isrelatively inexpensive. It is well-suited for application on remotemine sites.
The recent work culminated in locked cycle testing ofthe Grata and Samapleu Main composites. In these tests, bothcomposites were subjected to the same scheme, and both respondedsimilarly. This suggests material mined from both sources can beprocessed through the same plant and most likely can be blended.
Copper, nickel and cobalt results are highlightedbelow:
Copper concentrate | Nickel concentrate | |||||||||||
Grade, % | Recovery, % | Grade, % | Recovery, % | |||||||||
Copper | Nickel | Cobalt | Copper | Nickel | Cobalt | Copper | Nickel | Cobalt | Copper | Nickel | Cobalt | |
Samapleu Main Zone | 26 | 1.2 | 0.05 | 83 | 3 | 3 | 1.6 | 13 | 0.5 | 9 | 67 | 51 |
Grata | 27 | 1.1 | 0.04 | 88 | 4 | 4 | 1.3 | 13 | 0.5 | 6 | 72 | 61 |
Copper flotation yielded 83-88% copper recovery, toconcentrates assaying 26-27% copper. Nickel and cobalt misplacement tothe copper concentrate was 3-4%. Nickel flotation yielded 67-72%nickel recovery to concentrates assaying 13% nickel. Cobalt recoverieswere 51% and 61% for the Samapleu Main and Grata compositesrespectively.
In both cases a combined 60% of the palladium wasrecovered to the copper and nickel concentrates, the majority beingrecovered to the nickel concentrate. The palladium grades are expectedto yield attractive payment terms from smelters. Platinum gradesshould in most cases be high enough to attract some payment, withrecoveries to both concentrates of 47% and 62% from the Samapleu Mainand Grata composites. Gold may also attract a small pay from bothcopper concentrates:
Copper concentrate | Nickel concentrate | |||||||||||
Grade, % | Recovery, % | Grade, % | Recovery, % | |||||||||
Platinum | Palladium | Gold | Platinum | Palladium | Gold | Platinum | Palladium | Gold | Platinum | Palladium | Gold | |
Samapleu Main | 1.8 | 6.4 | 1.4 | 12 | 19 | 26 | 2.8 | 7.6 | 0.3 | 35 | 41 | 10 |
Grata | 1.1 | 7.3 | 1.2 | 22 | 23 | 43 | 1.5 | 8.7 | 0.3 | 40 | 37 | 12 |
The Samapleu Extension composite was also subjected totwo batch tests using the chosen flowsheet, primarily to assess theapplicability of the same flowsheet to this part of the resource. Nolocked cycle tests were run on this composite. The tests yielded verysimilar concentrate grades to the locked cycle tests, again with goodselectivity evident between the copper and nickel concentrates.Recoveries were somewhat lower, whichcan be ascribed to the batchnature of the test, even in locked cycle mode copper and nickelrecoveries are still expected to be lower for this material.
Key results are shown below:
Copper concentrate | Nickel concentrate | |||||||
Grade, % | Recovery, % | Grade, % | Recovery, % | |||||
Copper | Nickel | Copper | Nicke l | Copper | Nickel | Copper | Nickel | |
Samapleu Extension Zone | 28 | 0.8 | 67 | 1 | 2 | 16 | 8 | 48 |
The copper and nickel concentrates assayed 19 and 21grams per tonne (“ g/t ”) combined Pt/Pd respectively. Platinumand palladium would both attract good payment terms from suchconcentrates, while gold, assaying 4 g/t, will attract good pay fromthe copper concentrate. Cobalt assayed 0.8% in the nickel concentrate.Recoveries of these minor metals are difficult to project from batchtests but like copper and nickel, appear somewhat lower for SamapleuExtension based on this composite.
Qualified Person and QualityAssurance
The metallurgical technical information in this releasehas been reviewed and approved by Chris MartinC.Eng, MIMMM, Consulting Metallurgist , while thegeological technical information has been reviewed and approved by Dr.Marc-Antoine Audet, Ph.D. Geology, P.Geo, President and CEO of Sama,both acting as a ‘qualified person’, as defined by NationalInstrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for metallurgicalreporting.
About Sama Resources Inc.
Sama is a Canadian-based ,growth-oriented resource company focused on exploring the Samapleunickel-copper project in Ivory Coast, West Africa. The Company ismanaged by experienced industry professionals with a strong trackrecord of discovery. Sama is committed to developing and exploitingthe Samapleu Nickel-Copper and Platinum Group ElementResources.
Sama’s projects are located approximately 600 kmnorthwest of Abidjan in Côte d’Ivoire and straddle both sides ofthe Ivorian and Guinean borders in West Africa. Sama’s projects arelocated adjacent to the large world-class nickel-cobalt lateritedeposits of Sipilou and Foungouesso, forming a 125 km long new BaseMetal Camp in West Africa.
Sama owns 70% interest in the Samapleu nickel-copperproject in Ivory Coast, with its joint venture partner IvanhoeElectric owning 30%. Ivanhoe Electric has the option to purchase up toa 60% interest in the project. For more information about Sama, pleasevisit Sama’s website at www.samaresources.com .
About Ivanhoe Electric Inc.
Ivanhoe Electric (NYSE American: IE, TSX: IE), is an American technology and mineralexploration company that is re-inventing mining for theelectrification of everything by combining advanced mineralexploration technologies, renewable energy storage solutions andelectric metals projects predominantly located in the UnitedStates . For moreinformation, visit www.ivanhoeelectric.com
Contact Information:
Dr. Marc-Antoine Audet, President and CEO
Tel: (514) 726-4158
Mr. Matt Johnston, Corporate Development Advisor
Tel: (604) 443-3835 or (877) 792-6688, Ext. 5
Forward-Looking Statements
Certain of the statements made andinformation contained herein are "forward-lookingstatements" or “forward-looking information” within themeaning of Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking statementsand forward-looking information such as “will”, could”,“expect”, “estimate”, “evidence”, “potential”,“appears”, “seems”, “suggest”, are subject to a variety ofrisks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results todiffer from those reflected in the forward-looking statements orforward-looking information, including, without limitation, theability of the company to convert resources in reserves, its abilityto see through the next phase of development on the project, itsability to produce a pre-feasibility study or a feasibility studyregarding the project, its ability to execute on its development plansin terms of metallurgy or exploration, the availability of financingfor activities, risks and uncertainties relating to the interpretationof drill results and the estimation of mineral resources and reserves,the geology, grade and continuity of mineral deposits, the possibilitythat future exploration, development or mining results will not beconsistent with the Company's expectations, metal price fluctuations,environmental and regulatory requirements, availability of permits,escalating costs of remediation and mitigation, risk of title loss,the effects of accidents, equipment breakdowns, labour disputes orother unanticipated difficulties with or interruptions in explorationor development, the potential for delays in exploration or developmentactivities, the inherent uncertainty of cost estimates and thepotential for unexpected costs and expenses, commodity pricefluctuations, currency fluctuations, expectations and beliefs ofmanagement and other risks and uncertainties.
In addition, forward-lookingstatements and forward-looking information are based on variousassumptions. Should one or more of these risks and uncertaintiesmaterialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actualresults may vary materially from those described in theforward-looking information or forward-looking statements.Accordingly, readers are advised not to place undue reliance onforward-looking statements or forward-looking information. Except asrequired under applicable securities legislation, the Companyundertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-lookingstatements or forward-looking information, whether as a result of newinformation, future events or otherwise.
Neither the TSX-V nor its RegulationServices Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of theTSX-V) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of thisrelease.
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