Asiamet Resources announces heap leaching testwork awarded to Core
Asiamet Resources Limited, an ASX and TSX-listed company with a significant portfolio of copper-gold deposits in Indonesia, has engaged Core Resources to conduct heap leaching metallurgical testwork for the Beruang Kanan Main (BKM) copper deposit in Kalimantan. The testwork is a key component of the Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA), which aims to evaluate the economic viability of developing an open-pit mine alongside a heap leach Solvent Extraction-Electrowinning (SX-EW) processing facility.
Advancing the BKM Copper Project
The BKM deposit is one of Asiamet Resources’ flagship assets, with a 2015 resource estimate confirming a significant near-surface copper mineralisation. The current PEA, managed by Australian mine planning consultancy Orelogy, is focused on determining the most efficient and cost-effective processing route for the project.
A major component of this study is the assessment of heap leaching as a potential processing method for BKM’s copper ore. This approach, if proven viable, would allow for on-site copper production, reducing costs associated with transporting concentrate to external processing facilities.
Core Resources’ Role in Metallurgical Testwork
Core Resources has been commissioned to conduct phase II metallurgical testwork on samples from the BKM deposit. This program is designed to:
- Evaluate copper recovery rates using heap leaching
- Optimise leach kinetics and reagent consumption
- Determine the suitability of SX-EW technology for producing copper cathode on-site
The testwork is being supervised by Graeme Miller of Miller Metallurgical Services, ensuring rigorous evaluation and industry best practices are followed.
Significance of the Testwork
The results of this testwork will play a crucial role in determining the feasibility of heap leaching at BKM, directly influencing processing methods, project economics and future development decisions. If successful, the findings could support Asiamet Resources in moving the project towards feasibility and eventual production.
By partnering with Core Resources, Asiamet Resources is leveraging industry-leading metallurgical expertise to de-risk the project and optimise its processing strategy.
For more on the project, and Core’s role, see Asiamet’s announcement here
All details reported here have been announced to market by Asiamet Resources, and are in the public domain.
