Premium Product Quality Exceeds Industry Standards
Tivan Limited (ASX: TVN) has announced outstanding metallurgical testwork results for its flagship Speewah Fluorite Project in Western Australia, achieving fluorite concentrate grades of up to 99% CaF2. These exceptional results significantly exceed the industry standard specification of 97% CaF2 for acid-grade fluorspar, positioning the company's product at a premium level in global markets.
The results were achieved using new drill core obtained from the company's Q4 2024 drilling campaign, validating the processing flowsheet design while enhancing marketing opportunities with potential international customers.
"Tivan is making sustained progress in de-risking the Speewah Fluorite Project and in building a new, critical export sector for Australia. By advancing the testwork program to a premium specification, we are providing strong support to the project's marketing campaign in Asia," commented Grant Wilson, Executive Chairman of Tivan Ltd.
The premium-grade outcome reinforces the robustness of Tivan's processing methodology while potentially creating additional value through international offtake arrangements, particularly in Asian markets where the company is advancing discussions through its joint venture partner, Sumitomo Corporation.
Breakthrough Ore Sorting Technology Shows Major Potential
In what could prove to be a game-changing development for the Speewah Fluorite Project, preliminary ore sorting testwork has demonstrated exceptional potential to enhance project economics. Initial results showed:
- 56% feed rejection to the sorter with minimal fluorite losses
- Potential for significant reduction in process plant equipment sizing
- Opportunities to decrease water consumption, tailings volumes, and carbon footprint
- Projected reductions in operating costs and sustaining capital expenditure
The company has engaged Lycopodium and Orway Mineral Consultants to prepare a concept study for integrating ore sorting technology into the process flowsheet, recognising the significant potential benefits this technology could bring to the project.
Understanding Ore Sorting: A Value-Adding Process
Ore sorting represents a dry physical beneficiation process widely used in the fluorite industry to upgrade crushed ore before it enters the mill. This technology offers several key advantages for mining operations at the Speewah Fluorite Project and similar developments.
Capital Efficiency
Ore sorting allows for smaller processing equipment requirements, which can significantly reduce upfront capital investment. By rejecting a substantial portion of non-ore material early in the process, downstream equipment can be sized accordingly, creating substantial cost savings.
Environmental Benefits
The implementation of ore sorting technology at the Speewah Fluorite Project could deliver multiple environmental advantages:
- Lower water consumption in a region where water management is important
- Reduced tailings storage requirements and associated environmental footprint
- Decreased carbon emissions through more efficient processing
- Potential reuse of rejected material for civil works during operations
Operational Improvements
From an operational perspective, ore sorting offers enhanced circuit reliability by providing more consistent feed to the flotation circuit. This consistency can translate to improved recoveries and more predictable production outcomes.
Market Context: Critical Mineral Positioning
Fluorspar (CaF2) is classified as a critical mineral by major economies including the United States, European Union, Japan, and Australia. This classification recognises both its importance to industrial applications and concerns about supply security.
Fluorspar serves as an essential ingredient in various industrial processes, including:
- Hydrofluoric acid production: A primary application, used in numerous chemical processes
- Aluminium production: As a flux in aluminium smelting
- Steel manufacturing: Used as a flux to lower the melting temperature and remove impurities
- Refrigerants and fluoropolymers: Critical components in refrigeration and non-stick coatings
- Lithium-ion batteries: Used in electrolyte formulations for energy storage applications
The global fluorspar market has become increasingly concerned with supply security, as production is currently dominated by China and Mexico. This concentration of supply has prompted countries to seek alternative, stable sources of this critical mineral.
Technical Achievements in Product Quality
Recent metallurgical testwork completed by Tivan for the Speewah Fluorite Project has consistently delivered exceptional results across multiple technical parameters.
Firstly, baryte rejection targets were achieved for all samples, including those with elevated baryte levels. Additionally, iron rejection targets were met for all samples with elevated iron content, further demonstrating the robustness of the processing methodology.
Furthermore, calcite and metal oxide targets were successfully achieved for all tested samples, while SiO2 targets were addressed through optimisation of the flotation process.
These technical achievements demonstrate the project's ability to process various lithologies within the deposit, providing confidence in the processing methodology across the full resource at the Speewah Fluorite Project.
Advancing Development Timeline
Tivan is now preparing acid-grade fluorite product samples for potential end-users in Asia as part of its offtake marketing program with Sumitomo Corporation. The company continues to advance its development planning for a mining and processing operation that will position Australia as a new producer in global markets.
The next steps for the Speewah Fluorite Project include:
- Completion of the ore sorting concept study in parallel with the Feasibility Study
- Generation of additional sample material for potential end-users
- Expanded variability testwork utilising core from the current 2025 drilling campaign
- Further investigation of metallurgical grade fluorite (metspar) as a potential by-product
Why Investors Should Watch Tivan
Tivan presents a compelling investment case based on several key factors for the Speewah Fluorite Project and its overall business strategy.
Premium Product Quality
The consistent achievement of above-specification grades (up to 99% CaF2 versus the industry standard of 97% CaF2) enhances marketability and potentially commands premium pricing in international markets.
Process Optimisation
The ore sorting technology shows significant potential to improve project economics through reduced capital requirements, lower operating costs, and enhanced environmental performance at the Speewah Fluorite Project.
Strategic Partnerships
The joint venture with Sumitomo Corporation and Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC) provides both financial and marketing support, creating a clear pathway to market for the project's products.
Fluorite Market Outlook
The global demand for fluorspar is projected to grow alongside increased focus on high-tech manufacturing, renewable energy systems, and electric vehicles. As an essential input for numerous industrial applications, fluorspar's importance continues to increase while supply security concerns drive interest in new sources from stable jurisdictions.
The Speewah Fluorite Project represents an opportunity for Australia to establish itself as a reliable supplier of this critical mineral. With Tivan's technical progress and strategic partnerships, the company is well-positioned to capitalise on these market dynamics.
Through its development of the Speewah Fluorite Project, Tivan is establishing itself as a potential leader in supplying this critical mineral from a stable jurisdiction, addressing both commercial opportunities and strategic resource security concerns for major economies.
Production Optimisation Potential
Perhaps most significantly, ore sorting presents the opportunity to potentially lower cut-off grades without modifying pit shells, which could increase the total fluorite production over the life of the mine at the Speewah Fluorite Project.
This breakthrough could significantly enhance the already robust economics demonstrated in the July 2024 Pre-Feasibility Study, particularly when combined with the premium product quality being consistently achieved in metallurgical testwork.
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