Tivan Advances Speewah Fluorite Project with Premium Grade Results and Innovative Ore Sorting
Tivan Limited (ASX: TVN) has announced significant progress in its Speewah Fluorite Project testwork program, delivering exceptional results that strengthen the project’s technical foundation and economic potential. The company has recently produced premium vanadium electrolyte for battery storage, showing their commitment to developing multiple resource streams.
Premium Product Exceeds Industry Standards
Recent metallurgical testwork has yielded outstanding results, with fluorite concentrates achieving grades of up to 99% CaFâ‚‚, significantly exceeding the industry standard of 97% CaFâ‚‚ for acid-grade fluorspar. These premium results were obtained from new drill core collected during the Q4 2024 drilling campaign and validate Tivan Ltd’s previously announced optimisation outcomes.
The testwork involved samples prepared from four PQ diamond holes located in the A Vein of the deposit. Selected intervals were crushed to -31.5 mm and homogenised to form composites representative of the vein and stockwork lithologies, providing a comprehensive assessment of the deposit’s quality.
“By advancing the testwork program to a premium specification, we are providing strong support to the project’s marketing campaign in Asia, which is already well underway through our joint venture partner, Sumitomo Corporation,” said Tivan Executive Chairman Grant Wilson.
Breakthrough in Ore Sorting Technology
A potentially game-changing development for the Tivan Ltd Speewah Fluorite Project is the successful preliminary ore sorting testwork, which demonstrated the ability to reject 56% of feed material with minimal fluorite losses. This technological advancement mirrors similar innovations seen in the sector, such as when Inca Minerals gained majority control of strategic assets to enhance their production capabilities.
This breakthrough could significantly enhance the project’s economics by:
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- Reducing process plant equipment sizing
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- Lowering water consumption
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- Decreasing tailings tonnages
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- Cutting operating and sustaining capital costs
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- Reducing environmental impacts, including carbon emissions
The company has engaged Lycopodium and Orway Mineral Consultants to prepare a concept study for incorporating ore sorting into the process flowsheet, with results expected alongside the Feasibility Study.
Understanding Ore Sorting Technology
What is ore sorting?
Ore sorting is a dry physical beneficiation process that separates valuable minerals from waste rock before the grinding stage. For fluorite operations, sensors detect differences between fluorite-bearing and non-fluorite-bearing rock fragments, allowing for early rejection of waste material.
How does ore sorting work at Speewah?
At Speewah, a composite sample with a head grade of 14.4% CaFâ‚‚ was screened at 10 mm, and the oversize (-31.5+10 mm) product was subjected to sorting using TOMRA’s COM tertiary XRT system. This system visually identifies fluorite-bearing fragments and separates them from waste material.
What benefits does ore sorting provide?
Ore sorting allows for smaller mill sizing, reduced water consumption, smaller tailings storage requirements, and lower operating costs. It also offers opportunities to potentially lower the cut-off grade without modifying the pit shell, potentially increasing total fluorite production.
How significant are the ore sorting test results?
The test successfully rejected 56% of the feed, resulting in an upgrade ratio of 1.8. While 8.4% of the initial fluorite was rejected in the ore sorting test, subsequent analysis indicates that much of this would have been rejected by flotation processes anyway, making the actual fluorite loss lower than initial figures suggest.
Project Partnership and Development Path
Tivan Ltd is advancing the Speewah Fluorite Project in joint venture with Sumitomo Corporation and Japan Organization for Metals and Energy Security (JOGMEC). The project aims to develop a mining and processing operation to produce acid-grade fluorspar for export to global markets.
As part of its marketing strategy, Tivan is preparing acid-grade fluorite product samples for potential end-users in Asia, leveraging Sumitomo’s extensive distribution networks. This approach aligns with industry best practices where companies secure funding to advance projects, ensuring sustainable development.
Technical Achievements in Detail
The company’s technical advancements include:
| Test Area | Results | Significance |
|---|---|---|
| Flotation | Up to 99% CaFâ‚‚ grade | Exceeds industry standard (97%) |
| Ore Sorting | 56% mass rejection | Potential for significant cost reduction |
| Baryte & Iron Rejection | Targets achieved for all samples | Demonstrates process flexibility across deposit |
| Comminution | Validated PFS flowsheet | Confirms grinding circuit design |
The optimisation testwork has successfully addressed silica rejection, a key impurity in high-grade fluorite products, with SiOâ‚‚ content as low as 0.61% in the final concentrate. This is particularly important as maintaining low silica levels is crucial for producing premium acid-grade fluorite.
What is Fluorite and Why Does It Matter?
Fluorite (calcium fluoride or CaFâ‚‚) is a mineral used in various industrial applications. Acid-grade fluorspar (containing at least 97% CaFâ‚‚) is primarily used to manufacture hydrofluoric acid, which serves as a key component in refrigerants, pharmaceutical products, and aluminium production.
The mineral has been designated as critical by many countries including the US, EU, and Japan due to its essential role in various industries and limited supply sources. Currently, China dominates global production, making new sources like the Tivan Ltd Speewah Fluorite Project strategically important for supply diversification.
The premium grade achieved by Tivan (up to 99% CaFâ‚‚) positions the Speewah product at the top end of the market, potentially commanding premium pricing and access to specialised applications requiring high-purity material.
Future Plans and Timeline
Tivan has outlined several initiatives to advance the Speewah Fluorite Project:
- Completion of ore sorting concept study to potentially integrate this technology into the process flowsheet
- Continued optimisation testwork to prepare samples for potential end-users in Asia
- Further variability testwork using core from the current 2025 drilling campaign
- Pilot plant testwork to support engineering design for the Definitive Feasibility Study
- Investigation of metallurgical grade fluorite (metspar) as a potential by-product
The company is also progressing investigations into producing metallurgical grade fluorite (metspar) as a by-product, which could provide an additional revenue stream from the project. This multi-faceted approach to resource development is similar to how Matsa Resources hits high-grade gold at their mining operations while exploring additional opportunities.
Why Investors Should Follow Tivan
Tivan Ltd is strategically positioned in the critical minerals space with the Speewah Fluorite Project representing a significant opportunity to develop a new export industry for Australia. The company’s achievements in producing premium-grade fluorite and incorporating innovative process technologies like ore sorting demonstrate its commitment to optimising project economics.
The partnership with Sumitomo Corporation and JOGMEC provides strong validation of the project’s potential and offers established pathways to Asian markets. With fluorite designated as a critical mineral by many countries, the development of a major new supply source outside of China holds significant strategic importance.
The latest testwork results continue to de-risk the project technically while identifying opportunities to potentially enhance economic returns through process optimisation and by-product recovery. For investors interested in the critical minerals sector, Tivan’s Speewah Fluorite Project represents a compelling opportunity with multiple pathways to potential value creation, much like Sunshine Metals’ promising intercepts have created excitement in the precious metals market.
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