Centrex Limited (ASX:CXM) has obtained positive test work results at its wholly-owned Oxley Potassium Feldspar Project in Western Australia.
In March 2022, the company engaged Nagrom Metallurgical to undertake testing to determine the potential to extract potassium from the Oxley potassic feldspar.
Through this test work, Nagrom has successfully demonstrated at lab scale the extraction of potassium from Oxley potassic feldspar via a hydrothermal hydroxide leach process path.
Test work completed by Nagrom extracted +95% potassium providing sufficient incentive to continue fine tuning this process path with the aim to establish an alternative to the previously studied molten salt ion exchange method (90% potassium extraction to produce potassium chloride).
The hydrothermal process has the potential to lead to production of higher value potassium carbonate with further potential to produce other by-products, and regeneration of the critical hydroxide reagent.
The next steps for the remainder of 2023 is to further investigate this process pathway including tuning reaction kinetics, reagent quantities, and development of a process flow-sheet as the basis for engineering estimates. The company will keep the market informed on further developments.
“The positive results from the hydrothermal leach process provide a realistic avenue to unlock value and a possible process pathway for the high grade Oxley potassium feldspar resource subject to meeting the further development criteria and large scale test work outlined by the company,” Centrex’s Chief Technical Officer, Enzo Artone, said.
About the Oxley Potassium Feldspar Project
The Oxley Potassium Feldspar Project is located in the Midwest of Western Australia around 125km southeast of the port of Geraldton. The project is a very rare 32km long shallow dipping and outcropping potassium feldspar rich lava flow. The lava flow is up to 72m thick with average combined interval grades of up to 10.1% K2O.
The Oxley Potassium Feldspar Project has an Inferred Mineral Resource of 155Mt at 8.3%K2O from a 3km section of 32km striking ultrapotassic lava flow.
