Canada Cobalt assembles pilot plant at Castle mine

Posted by Daniel Gleeson on 17th July 2018

Canada Cobalt Works has provided the following update as it continues underground drilling and scales up its Re-2OX cobalt sulphate program with SGS Lakefield. Highlights:

  • Canada Cobalt Works is now assembling a pilot plant at the Castle mine to produce bulk gravity concentrates on site for immediate processing into cobalt sulphate
  • Through the company’s proprietary Re-2OX process, SGS Lakefield is currently precipitating metals from Castle mine concentrate and crystalizing cobalt sulphate from an organic solution for battery sector evaluation
  • Each of the first three underground drill holes on the first level of the Castle mine has intersected visually identifiable mineralization consisting of cobalt and nickel sulphides as well as native silver>

Jacques Monette, Canada Cobalt Works director and mine consultant, stated: “Underground drilling and rehab are proceeding extremely well, and we eagerly anticipate initial assay results. Almost all pilot plant equipment is now on site, with feed from the first level being stockpiled. Plans are also being made to allow for underground drilling throughout the winter, so crews are busy and excited as we set the pace in the prolific Northern Ontario cobalt camp.”

Assembly and testing of the 500-kg/d pilot plant will be completed over the next several weeks, with cobalt concentrate slated to be produced on site beginning during the third quarter. This will allow for a scaling up of the three-stage Re-2OX process at SGS Lakefield under the supervision of Dr Ron Molnar of Canada Cobalt Works’ advisory board.

SGS Lakefield has completed bulk SX testing, with Re-2OX able to remove 99% of the arsenic from concentrate containing nearly 50% arsenic, while cobalt recovery rates are 99%.

Canada Cobalt is a pure play cobalt company focused exclusively on the Northern Ontario cobalt camp, Canada’s most prolific cobalt district. With three 100%-owned past-producing mines, a proprietary hydrometallurgical process known as Re-2OX, and plans for a 600-t/d mill at its flagship Castle property near Gowganda, Canada Cobalt is well positioned to become a vertically integrated North American leader in cobalt extraction and recovery.