This report summarizes the metallurgical testwork and proposed processing flowsheet for the Lac à l’Orignal phosphate property, based on a Preliminary Economic Assessment with an effective date of July 25, 2023.
Report context
This technical report was prepared as a Preliminary Economic Assessment (PEA) for the Lac à l’Orignal Phosphate Property, located in the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean Region of Northern Québec, at longitude 70° 34' 42" W and latitude 49° 04' 28" N (UTM NAD83 Zone 19N 384,750 E, 5,436,930 N). The report has an effective date of July 25, 2023, and a signing date of September 11, 2023, and was prepared for First Phosphate Corp. in accordance with NI 43-101 and 43-101F1.
Processing route
Test Sample Characterization
Metallurgical testwork included chemical analyses and mineralogical investigations. Chemical analyses characterized the feed material composition. Mineralogical studies were conducted by SGS and by Queen's University, with conclusions drawn from these investigations.
Comminution Tests
Comminution testing was carried out to support process design. Specific results and parameters were reported in the metallurgical testing section of the PEA.
Magnetic Separation Tests
Magnetic separation testing was performed on the mineralized material. The purpose of this step was to recover magnetite from the feed prior to downstream processing.
Apatite Recovery by Flotation
Apatite recovery was investigated using froth flotation. This step was designed to produce a phosphate concentrate from the non-magnetic fraction of the ore.
Ilmenite Recovery
Ilmenite recovery testing was also undertaken. This step targeted the recovery of ilmenite, a titanium-iron oxide mineral, from the process stream.
Overall Beneficiation Flowsheet
The proposed overall beneficiation flowsheet, as described in the PEA, includes the following stages:
- Mineralized process plant feed handling
- Grinding
- Magnetite separation (magnetic separation of magnetite)
- Sulphide flotation
- Magnetite product handling and destinations
- Additional magnetite concentration process development
- Apatite recovery and concentration by flotation
- Ilmenite recovery and concentration
The flowsheet was designed to recover multiple valuable minerals, with magnetite, apatite, and ilmenite as the primary products.
Information Requirements for Plant Design
The report identified information requirements for plant design, indicating that the testwork program was designed to provide the necessary data for advancing to detailed engineering.
Key reported parameters
| Parameter | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Report effective date | July 25, 2023 | PEA |
| Location | Longitude 70° 34' 42" W, Latitude 49° 04' 28" N | UTM NAD83 Zone 19N 384,750 E, 5,436,930 N |
| Grinding | Required prior to beneficiation | Design |
| Magnetite separation | Magnetic separation of magnetite proposed | Design |
| Sulphide flotation | Included in flowsheet | Design |
| Apatite recovery | By flotation, after magnetite removal | Design/testwork |
| Ilmenite recovery | By concentration after apatite flotation | Design/testwork |
Project website: https://firstphosphate.com/projects/assets/
Technical qualifications
The report describes the metallurgical testwork as providing the basis for the proposed flowsheet, but notes that further process development work may be required. Specific limitations were identified in the metallurgical testing section, including recommendations for additional testwork to confirm recoveries and optimize process conditions. The PEA is a preliminary assessment and is subject to further engineering studies. The report does not demonstrate that the proposed processing approach has been validated at pilot scale.
Source: Lac à l’Orignal Phosphate Property, Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean Region, Northern Québec, Preliminary Economic Assessment, NI 43-101 Technical Report, Effective Date: July 25, 2023, Sections 1.8, 13.0, and 17.0.
