Potash Ridge commences pilot scale test work for its Blawn Mountain Project

Potash Ridge Corporation announced that it has commenced pilot scale test work for its Blawn Mountain Project.

The primary objectives of the pilot scale test work are to confirm the results of historic pilot plant testing, confirm the results of current bench scale testing on a continuous basis, process optimization, and generation of concentrate and products for material characterization and downstream metallurgical testing. Process optimization is primarily focused on operating efficiencies and maximizing SOP recoveries, while still producing a bauxite-type material that can be sold to refiners for processing into alumina.

The Blawn Mountain deposit was extensively evaluated during the 1970s and early 1980s. At that time, alumina was the primary product, with SOP produced as a by-product. The development work during that period included the operation of a pilot plant scale test facility for three years using technology acquired from a pre-existing commercially-operated alunite processing facility in Azerbaijan. The project was suspended during the 1980s due to economic conditions and declining alumina prices.

The pilot scale test work will be conducted at Hazen Research's facilities in Golden, Colorado. The design of the flowsheet being tested uses a combination of proven technologies and is similar to the Azerbaijan alunite processing facility. The first run of the pilot scale testing will focus on flotation, followed by calcination, leaching and crystallization. The flotation pilot plant will process approximately one tonne of alunite material per day.

Guy Bentinck, Potash Ridge's President and Chief Executive Officer said, "The commencement of pilot scale testing represents a major milestone in the continued development of the Blawn Mountain Project."

The pilot scale testing is a component of the overall metallurgical test program. Work on the overall metallurgical test program is expected to continue until the end of 2013.