ZINC-LEAD: Central mill facility possible for Canadian Zn, Buchans properties

NEWFOUNDLAND – Canadian Zinc Corp. of Vancouver and Buchans Minerals Corp. of Toronto have been exploring the concept of a centralized mill to process ore from five base metal deposits in the central part of the province. Both companies have volcanogenic massive sulphide properties in the area. [caption id="attachment_1003717438" align="alignleft" width="300"] The Lundberg project showing mineralized outcrops. (Image: Minco PLC)[/caption] To evaluate the potential for the idea, the two companies asked Thibault & Associates to perform bench scale tests to characterize samples from the deposits. The samples were tested using dense media separation and flotation to produce concentrates of zinc, lead and copper. DMS was considered as a means of reducing the volume of ore that would need to be trucked from the mines to a central mill. The flotation tests were done to develop a common flowsheet and to improve grades, recoveries and operating costs as defined by previous test programs. The major conclusions from testing include these highlights:

• Pre-concentration by DMS is technically viable for the Lundberg, Bobbys Pond and the Lemarchant footwall.
• Sequential flotation is probably the best option for concentrate production as borne out by the test results and MetSim™
• A sequential flowsheet, rather than a bulk flotation flowsheet, offers the highest grades and recoveries.

Canadian Zinc (www.CanadianZinc.com/projects/newfoundland) controls the Lemarchant copper-lead-zinc deposit at the South Tally Pond property, The Boomerang copper-lead-zinc and Tulks East deposits at the Tulks South property, the Long Lake copper-lead-zinc deposit. Buchans Minerals, a wholly owned subsidiary of Minco PLC (www.MincoPLC.com/projects/Buchans-newfoundland/), owns the Lundberg zinc-lead project. This is the largest, most advanced property of the five studied. A preliminary economic report has been done to outline the resources, open pit mine planning and metallurgical studies for the deposit. Please see the individual websites for additional information.