Iltani Resources Limited (ASX: ILT) has reported positive outcomes from initial X-ray Transmission (XRT) ore sorting trials at the Herberton project in North Queensland. The company utilized TOMRA sorting technology to test high-grade and low-grade reverse circulation drill chips, specifically targeting lead and zinc sulphides. The results confirm that the mineralisation is highly amenable to pre-concentration due to the stark density contrast between sulphide-rich particles and the surrounding siliceous host rock.

The test work produced a high-grade sulphide product in a single pass. For the high-grade sample, the process achieved a two-fold upgrade in silver, indium, lead, and zinc content, while rejecting 58% of the feed mass. Results for the low-grade sample were even more pronounced, with upgrade factors reaching up to 16.1 times for indium and 12.7 times for lead, accompanied by a 96% mass rejection rate. These figures demonstrate the potential to remove substantial amounts of barren waste material before the ore reaches the milling circuit.

Management believes this technology could provide significant operational and financial benefits. By separating waste earlier in the production cycle, the company may be able to optimize its future plant design, potentially reducing energy consumption, tailings storage capacity requirements, and overall operating costs.

"Now we know ore sorting works, we can move onto the next stage of ore sorting test work, which will involve drilling PQ diameter diamond drillholes to generate sample required for a comprehensive ore sorting test work program." — Donald Garner, Managing Director

To advance this initiative, Iltani is planning a seven-hole PQ diamond drilling program. This larger-diameter core will generate more representative samples for follow-up testing compared to the initial reverse circulation chips, which naturally generated a high volume of fines. This upcoming phase will be critical for evaluating the broader Run of Mine (ROM) performance and determining how the finer particle fractions can be integrated into the processing flowsheet.

Beyond these metallurgical updates, the company continues to advance its broader project objectives. This includes ongoing regional drilling to evaluate multiple exploration targets across the Herberton area, as well as the anticipated reporting of final assay results from a 110-hole drilling campaign conducted at Orient West. Together, these operational milestones aim to establish a more detailed understanding of the project's resource potential and processing requirements as technical evaluations progress. The completion of bulk ore sorting test work using diamond core remains a primary focus for the next stage of development.

Read the full announcement: First Ore Sorting Completed at Orient Silver-Indium Project