Wildcat (ASX:WC8) produces “excellent” metallurgy from Pilbara lithium produce

Wildcat Resources has produced high calibre metallurgy results it considers to be a demonstration of the growing value of its Tabba Tabba lithium project near Port Hedland in the West Australian Pilbara.

Whole of ore flotation work showed recoveries of 79-84 per cent at head grades between 1-1.4 per cent lithium dioxide to produce a 5.5% Li2O concentrate.

It also produced 72-84% at 1-1.4% for a 6% clean concentrate, showing insignificant iron content, no deleterious elements of concern, and recoveries Wildcat considers excellent at a coarse grind size as it plans future work.

Wildcat Resources Managing Director AJ Saverimutto said it was extremely pleased with the results and direction obtained from the initial diagnostic test work over its asset.

“The initial results provide a simple process option, proving that high-grade saleable concentrates can be generated with outstanding spodumene recoveries,” he said.

“We are confident that further metallurgical optimisations leading towards our Pre-Feasibility Study will continue to improve the robustness of Tabba Tabba’s geometallurgical model and favourable project economics.

“We would like to thank BHM Process Consultants and Nagrom for their outstanding work.”

The very first assays from maiden drilling at Tabba Tabba had Wildcat confident it was the trail of a major discovery, and subsequent strikes with the drill have done little to dissuade.

A crash of the lithium price in the wake of all-time highs and subsequent oversupply might have taken some of the shine, but Wildcat has appeared committed to the development of one of the region’s most high-profile discoveries.

Sitting on granted mining leases nearby 414 million tonnes of resource at Pilbara Minerals‘ (ASX:PLS) Pilgangoora, 259Mt at Mineral Resources‘ (ASX:MIN) Wodgina, and connected to Port Hedland, the idea of a large-scale lithium camp is hardly absurd.

A 100,000-metre drilling campaign continued to show the project’s lithium lustre through the downswing, and the Perth-based explorer is now progressing towards pre-feasibility.

Work to that end will include expanded metallurgical testing, engineering design, hydrology, and environmental work.

And with more than $77 million in the bank at the end of June, Wildcat has the resources to keep building its asset toward a rebound without needing to rattle the tin anytime soon.