Accent Resources NL has released independent metallurgical testwork results for the Magnetite Range Project, demonstrating that coarse dry magnetic separation can reject up to 46% of waste mass at a 3mm crush size while maintaining magnetic iron recoveries above 97%.

The test program, conducted by Central South University in China using diamond core samples from the Julia and Robb deposits, forms part of the ongoing pre-feasibility study metallurgical workstream. The work evaluates dry magnetic separation to reduce mass reporting to downstream circuits and lower water consumption.

Testing of -10mm and -3mm material showed that mass rejection reached approximately 30% and 46% respectively, with magnetic iron recoveries consistently between 97% and 99% across all tested crush sizes. Increasing the drum rotation speed improved concentrate grades and gangue rejection while causing only a minor reduction in total iron recovery.

“These encouraging results provide further confidence in the development potential of the Magnetite Range Project and build on the positive Bureau Veritas testwork reported in December 20252. The ability to reject a substantial proportion of waste material through dry magnetic separation, while maintaining high magnetic iron recovery, could deliver important benefits through reduced water consumption, lower downstream processing requirements and potentially lower operating costs. The results also demonstrate the potential to produce a high-quality magnetite concentrate using a fully dry processing flowsheet. We will continue to optimise this processing route as part of the ongoing Pre-Feasibility Study.”

— Dr David Sun, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer

Further upgrading through fine crushing of the -3mm dry concentrate to 80% passing 0.150mm, followed by secondary dry magnetic separation, lifted total iron grades above 50% in Lower BIF domains while keeping magnetic iron recovery above 99% and achieving an additional 15% to 30% gangue rejection.

High-speed dry magnetic separation testing at drum speeds up to 9 m/s, using equipment capable of reaching 10 m/s with increased N-S pole reversals at a constant field strength of 3,500 Gauss, achieved concentrate grades exceeding 60% Fe at a P80 of 0.150mm. These elevated operating conditions reduced mass yield and led to a marginally lower overall iron recovery compared to conventional drum speeds.

Read the full announcement: Dry Magnetic Separation Testwork Results