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The Tsumeb Slag Stockpiles Project |
 Tsumeb Slag Stockpile |
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OverviewThe Tsumeb Slag Stockpiles Project will involve the metallurgical processing of stockpiled slag produced by the Tsumeb Smelter for the production of germanium, gallium and zinc. The processing of the slag is expected to take place immediately adjacent to the stockpiles using a combination of pyrometallurgy and hydrometallurgy. Emerging Metals holds an option to acquire the processing and ownership rights to the Tsumeb Slag Stockpiles from Ongopolo Mining Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of Weatherly International plc. The slag stockpiles accumulated from the processing of ore at the Tsumeb Smelter, currently owned and operated by Weatherly, from 1963 to 1996. The Tsumeb Slag Stockpiles adjoin the Tsumeb Smelter which is about 2.5 km north of the town of Tsumeb, the capital city of the Oshikoto Region of Namibia. Description of the Tsumeb Slag StockpilesSmelter slags are an important waste product resulting from the smelting of ores and concentrates. Slag is typically formed from the silicate melt produced during the pyrometallurgical recovery of base metals by reducing fusion in a smelter furnace. The Tsumeb slags were often rich in residue metals, especially heavy metals (lead, zinc and copper) and rare metals (germanium, gallium and indium). There are two smelter slag stockpiles – the Lead Blast Furnace Slag Stockpile and the Copper Reverbatory Furnace Slag Stockpile. The Lead Blast Furnace Slag Stockpile covers an area of about 350m by 350m and consists of three main dumps comprising granular unconsolidated slag that is a fine medium grained black, glassy material, which runs relatively freely. The contained metal grades range as follows: 6.4 to 11.63% zinc; 1.5 to 2.7% lead; and 70 to 590 ppm germanium. The Copper Reverbatory Furnace Slag Stockpile has less material with smaller-sized granulated slag having a different zinc and germanium content. It is located immediately adjacent to the Lead Blast Furnace Slag Stockpile, separated by a paved access road and a railroad track. Metal grades in the Copper Reverbatory Furnace Slag range as follows: 1.82 to 7.88% zinc; 0.16 to 4.41% lead; and 110 to 1300 ppm germanium. Several metallurgical processes have been tested and documented in the past, each showing some promise for winning the contained metals from the slag. In particular, both pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical treatments have been studied. The Company nevertheless plans to carry out its own studies and test work to determine the optimum process for winning the contained metals from the slag. Resource EstimateThe Competent Persons Report, contained in the Company’s AIM Admission Document, states that the Lead Blast Furnace Slag Stockpile contains 2,000,000 tonnes with a reported average germanium analysis of 260 ppm and a zinc analysis of 9.03% as an Indicated Resource as defined in the 2007 SME Guide for Reporting Exploration Results, Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves. No tonnage or grade information, other than smelter metallurgical accounting records, is available for the Copper Reverbatory Furnace Slag Stockpile. Therefore, a classification could not be assigned to the Copper Reverbatory Furnace Slag Stockpile as per the 2007 SME Guide. Work ProgrammeThe Company plans to confirm the metal content of each dump as well as the volume and mass of stockpiled material as part of developing a metallurgical process. The Company is currently in the process of preparing a feasibility study on the Tsumeb Slag Stockpiles Project. |
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