ASX-listed mineral exploration company, Lindian Resources, has begun the next significant phase of technical analysis at its Gaoual bauxite project in Guinea. The company has reportedly sent its geological crew to the project to conduct screening tests on Gaoual’s aluminium oxide ore.
Through earlier tests, Lindian Resources found a readily mineable maiden resource at Gaoual, with aluminium oxide at an average 49.8 per cent, silica 11.5 per cent, and a higher-grade component of 84 million tonnes at an impressive grade of 5.12 per cent aluminium oxide.
Gaoual contains higher levels of the impurity silica than other bauxite resources, but metallurgical test shows that the deposit’s silica content is predominantly fine-grained quartz. So, simple screening can significantly reduce the silica content and effectively raise the aluminium oxide content with minimal loss of tonnage.
Lindian says the screening tests will involve a series of dry and wet screening, with samples to be shipped to a laboratory for further analysis and metallurgical test work.
Generally, the presence of more silica in bauxite leads to the higher usage of caustic soda in the refining process and higher loss of alumina.
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Earlier this month, Lindian Resources received Guinean Government approval for the acquisition of a 75 per cent interest of Lelouma bauxite project in Guinea. Lelouma, lies approximately 40km east of the Gaoual conglomerate bauxite project, hosts a measured, indicated, and inferred resource of 900 million tonnes, with aluminium oxide at an average 45 per cent, silica 2.1 per cent, and a higher-grade component of 398 million tonnes at 48.1 per cent aluminium oxide.
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