Cobalt Blue begins calcine test-work pilot trial of pyrite concentrate

Cobalt Blue Holdings Ltd (ASX:COB) (OTCMKTS:CBBHF) (FRA:COH) has started pilot trial-scale treatment of pyrite concentrate with the calcine product to be processed for cobalt recovery in COB’s new Pilot Plant at Broken Hill. Commissioning of the Broken Hill Cobalt Project (BHCP) Pilot Plant is on schedule for late February, with subsequent samples to be sent to prospective partners as part COB’s global Cobalt Sample Program. “Significant global attention” Chief executive officer Joe Kaderavek said: “With calcine test-work to be completed shortly, our pilot plant on target, and the global cobalt market tightening nicely, we expect our Cobalt Sample Program to generate significant global attention.” The process is divided into concentration, calcining, leaching and product recovery with the COB pilot plant to process 90 tonnes of ore samples which have been collected from prior drilling programs. The concentration circuit will generate approximately 15 tonnes of pyrite concentrate for downstream processing. Pilot trials of the calcining step have commenced at Anergy Australia’s demonstration facility in Bunbury, Western Australia, processing the first 7-tonne portion of pyrite concentrate. Cobalt Blue expects the calcining of this sample to be completed shortly. BHCP pilot plant update Installation of the pilot plant is well advanced, with electrical power cabling being installed to major equipment. Instrumentation connections are due next, followed by the setup and installation of the control system. COB is working locally with Vertex for the electrical installation and Honeywell for the control system. Standalone preliminary commissioning trials have commenced on the ore screening and gravity spirals.