Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - March 6, 2017) - Vendetta Mining Corp. (TSXV: VTT) (the "Company") is pleased to announce the initial metallurgical test work on the Pegmont Lead-Zinc project from the Burke Hinge Zone open pit target (BHZ) and the high zinc grade Zone 5 underground target.
Using industry standard test work the initial flotation tests produced separate lead and zinc concentrates using bench scale batch (open cycle) flotation. Tests were performed by ALS Metallurgy, in Burnie Tasmania, under the supervision of Vendetta's consulting metallurgist Mr. Geoff Richmond.
Three composites from sulphide mineralization at BHZ, and Zone 5 Lens B and C were processed. A fourth test was performed on transition mineralization at BHZ. In all cases, separate marketable lead and zinc concentrates were produced.
Table 1. Composite Details, Overall Recoveries and Concentrate Grades.
| Area Composite | Bore Holes Included in Composite | Composite Head Grades (diluted) | Lead Circuit | Zinc Circuit | |||
| Pb % | Zn% | Pb Recovery % |
Concentrate Pb Grade % | Zn Recovery % |
Concentrate Zn Grade % |
||
| Sulphide Mineralization | |||||||
| BHZ | PVRD023, 024, 026, 027, 041, 042, 043, 044 & 045 | 5.02 | 3.03 | 91.5 | 70.6 | 61.8 | 50.7 |
| Zone 5, Lens B |
PVRD013, 030, 032, 33, 34 & 37 | 5.61 | 4.74 | 88.5 | 68.0 | 75.6 | 50.1 |
| Zone 5, Lens C |
PVRD030, 033 & 037 | 4.30 | 5.48 | 83.0 | 66.1 | 76.7 | 50.3 |
| Transition Mineralization* | |||||||
| BHZ | PVRD023 | 3.19 | 2.90 | 80.6 | 57.0 | 19.3 | 48.9 |
* Transition mineralization is defined as predominately sulphide lead-zinc mineralization in variably weathered rocks, with high iron oxide mineralogy.
Key Points:
- BHZ and Zone 5 composites were selected such that they are representative of the lead-zinc mineralization intersected during Vendetta's 2016 drilling program.
- Sulphide composites were prepared using quarter core HQ. BHZ transition sample was prepared using half core HQ.
- All sulphide composites included barren hangingwall and footwall country rock to simulate mining dilution. The BHZ transition test did not include dilution.
- Pre-concentration method investigated included magnetic separation and heavy media separation. These were performed on the BHZ sulphide and Zone 5 Lens B composites, results indicate that no meaningful advantage can be gained from pre-concentration.
- All composites were ground to P80 passing 105 µm.
- Each composite was subject to a series of developmental batch flotation tests, including a roughing only test and either two or three cleaning tests with rougher concentrate regrind (P80 passing 15 to 27 µm)
- BHZ Transition test was performed on an intersection from one drill hole only and is not considered representative. Zinc recoveries in the zinc concentrate of the BHZ Transition were hampered by locking of sphalerite in galena and gangue minerals, this is reflected in the relatively high recovery of zinc (22.3%) to the lead concentrate. While transition mineralization represents a relatively small proportion of the mineralization at the BHZ open pit target flotation optimization work is ongoing.
- Bond Ball Mill Work Index comminution test work, was performed on the BHZ Sulphide and Zone 5 Lens B composites, returning16.6 kWh/t and 19.4 kWh/t respectively, placing them in the medium to medium hard range.
- There remains scope to further optimize the flotation results. It is generally accepted that locked cycle flotation will result in higher recoveries more comparable to commercially operated flotation plant, compared to batch flotation.
- Further details about these tests will be made available on the Companies web page and Corporate Presentation.
Michael Williams, Vendetta's President and CEO commented "These initial metallurgical results are a significant technical milestone. The results demonstrate a classic grade recovery profile, producing marketable lead and zinc concentrates in all cases. This allows the Company to continue planning the 2017 resource development program with confidence as we further de-risk the Project".
About The Pegmont Lead Zinc Project
The Pegmont lead-zinc-silver deposit is located in North West Queensland Mineral Province, 175 km south-east of the major mining center of Mount Isa, 25 km west of South32's world class Cannington silver-lead-zinc operation and 28 km north of Chinova Resources' Osborne and Kulthor copper-gold operations. It is proximate to infrastructure including roads, rail, and natural gas for power generation.
Pegmont is a multiple lens, stratiform Broken Hill style deposit that outcrops with an overall shallow dip to the south east and is hosted in a magnetite rich, banded iron formation within high metamorphic grade rocks. The project consists of three granted mining leases and two exploration permits that cover an area of approximately 3,468 ha.
Since the February 2014 NI 43-101 Mineral Resource Estimate on Zones 1 to 4 there has been over 13,500 m of drilling, primarily in the Zone 5 underground target and the Burke Hinge Zone open pit target. Highlights of the Companies drill results from Burke Hinge Zone and Zone 5 are presented in Table 2 below, the Company plans to update the resource estimate in the near future.
Table 2. Selected Highlights of the 2014 — 2016 Burke Hinge Zone and Zone 5 Drilling^
| Bore Hole |
Dip / Azimuth | From (m) |
To (m) |
Interval (m) |
True Thickness* (m) |
Grade | |||
| Pb+Zn % |
Pb % |
Zn % |
Ag g/t |
||||||
| Burke Hinge Zone — Open Pit Target | |||||||||
| PVR018 | -60/205 | 81.0 | 87.0 | 6.0 | 5.4 | 7.30 | 4.90 | 2.41 | 7.0 |
| PVR019 | -60/205 | 62.0 | 69.0 | 7.0 | 6.7 | 11.52 | 7.79 | 3.72 | 12.4 |
| PVR021 | -60/205 | 57.0 | 70.0 | 13.0 | 13.0 | 7.34 | 4.29 | 3.04 | 6.6 |
| and | 81.0 | 87.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 10.11 | 6.98 | 3.13 | 12.5 | |
| PVRD023 | -60/205 | 40.64 | 46.64 | 6.00 | 6.0 | 9.48 | 6.08 | 3.40 | 17.8 |
| PVRD026 | -60/025 | 69.65 | 75.65 | 6.00 | 3.7 | 10.41 | 5.94 | 4.47 | 10.4 |
| PVRD027 | -60/205 | 34.16 | 37.16 | 3.00 | 3.0 | 11.48 | 7.55 | 3.93 | 27.9 |
| PVRD041 | -60/205 | 31.0 | 36.0 | 5.0 | 4.9 | 9.15 | 5.99 | 3.16 | 9.1 |
| PVRD042 | -60/205 | 42.5 | 46.45 | 4.00 | 3.9 | 16.83 | 12.28 | 4.55 | 19.9 |
| Zone 5 — Underground Target | |||||||||
| PVRD030 | -68/330 | 290.85 | 299.15 | 8.30 | 7.9 | 10.73 | 5.82 | 4.91 | 6.8 |
| and | 317.25 | 323.00 | 5.75 | 4.8 | 11.01 | 5.85 | 5.16 | 9.0 | |
| PVRD032 | -70/350 | 253.28 | 260.28 | 7.00 | 6.2 | 9.55 | 6.40 | 3.15 | 8.0 |
| PVRD033 | -70/350 | 276.63 | 281.63 | 5.00 | 4.6 | 9.72 | 5.77 | 3.95 | 8.0 |
| PVRD037 | -88/240 | 297.38 | 303.38 | 6.00 | 5.5 | 9.72 | 4.53 | 5.19 | 6.2 |
| PMR283 | -90 | 276.0 | 285.0 | 9.0 | 9.0 | 13.23 | 6.35 | 6.88 | 7.7 |
| PVRD052A | -51/138 | 215.63 | 230.40 | 14.77 | 6.8 | 11.91 | 5.46 | 6.45 | 5.56 |
| PVRD017 | -56/153 | 260.60 | 265.16 | 4.56 | 4.2 | 15.60 | 5.45 | 10.15 | 6.1 |
^Note: For full details about the above drill results please see the Company's previous news releases dated the 7th September 2016, 21st September 2016 and 30th November 2016.
About Vendetta Mining Corp.
Vendetta Mining Corp. is a Canadian junior exploration company engaged in acquiring, exploring, and developing mineral properties with an emphasis on lead and zinc. It is currently focused on advanced stage exploration projects in Australia, the first of which is the recently optioned Pegmont Lead Zinc project. Additional information on the Company can be found at www.vendettaminingcorp.com
Qualified Person
Peter Voulgaris, MAusIMM, MAIG, a Director of Vendetta, is a non-independent qualified person as defined by NI 43-101. Mr. Voulgaris has reviewed the technical content of this press release, and consents to the information provided in the form and context in which it appears.
Geoff Richmond FAusIMM, a Consulting Metallurgist to Vendetta, is a qualified person as defined by NI 43-101. Mr Richmond has reviewed the metallurgical technical content of this press release, and consents to the information provided in the form and context in which it appears.
