Coda Minerals Ltd. has reported promising preliminary metallurgical results for its Elizabeth Creek copper-silver project in South Australia, boosting confidence in its preferred processing pathway as it advances a pre-feasibility study (PFS).
Laboratory batch testing of the project’s whole-ore chloride leach process achieved high metal extractions across various mineral compositions and head grades.
Representative variability samples from the key Emmie Bluff deposit averaged 94.4 per cent copper and 95.9 per cent silver extraction, reaching peak recovery rates of 97.2 per cent and 99.7 per cent, respectively.
Significantly, direct comparative testing showed that using local Elizabeth Creek site water yielded results equivalent to, and in some aspects better than, fresh tap water. The high natural salinity of the site water appeared to enhance metal extraction without causing adverse operational impacts.
While base-case economics for the project currently exclude cobalt revenue, the preliminary testing delivered an average cobalt extraction of 39.7 per cent across representative samples, peaking at 51.7 per cent.
Coda is continuing work to optimise cobalt leach performance and investigate downstream recovery options to unlock additional commercial value.
“These results add momentum to Elizabeth Creek,” said Coda Minerals CEO Chris Stevens.
“High copper and silver extraction across a broader range of samples strengthens our confidence in the preferred chloride leach process, while the encouraging site-water results bring the testing closer to the conditions relevant to the project.”
In addition, cobalt extraction reached 51.7 per cent. Stevens said cobalt is another opportunity to expand the company’s revenue.
“Our published whole-ore chloride leach base-case economics exclude cobalt revenue, yet these tests achieved more than 50 per cent cobalt extraction in two samples. That gives us a strong reason to pursue the additional value cobalt could bring,” he said.
“Our focus is now on establishing a practical, economic route to capture that potential.”
The metallurgical program is progressing alongside resource, geotechnical, groundwater, tailings, and mine planning studies.
Elizabeth Creek remains on track for further PFS milestones, with upcoming works focusing on final comminution data, downstream recovery testing, and reagent recycling analysis.