The 2016 technical report describes a proposed manganese processing operation in Rondônia, Brazil, supported by historical operating data, trial mining, and metallurgical testwork.
Report context
This NI 43-101 technical report for the BMC Manganese, Gold, Tin Project, located in Rondônia, northwest Brazil, is dated August 26, 2016, with the same effective date. The project is 100% owned by Cancana Resources Corp. The report covers a manganese-oxide colluvial and vein deposit, with additional gold, tin, and kimberlite targets. The project includes historical small-scale colluvial mining, a trial vein-mining program, and a proposed processing plant design based on testwork and past operating data.
Processing route
Historical colluvial processing
Historically, the project has processed manganese-oxide colluvial material using a simple screening and jigging plant. The operation results section reports that the plant processed colluvial material at a rate of 80 tonnes per hour, with an average feed grade of 20–25% manganese. The plant produced a final concentrate grading 38–40% manganese. This data represents actual operating results from historical production.
Proposed vein processing
A pilot-plant flowsheet is proposed for processing manganese-oxide vein material. The design incorporates two-stage crushing, screening, dense medium separation (DMS) using heavy liquid separation technology, and a spiral circuit for fines. The flowsheet is based on heavy liquid separation tests, stratification tests, and spiral tests conducted on vein-material samples.
Trial vein mining
A trial vein-mining program was conducted to evaluate the practical aspects of mining the vein deposits. The trial involved extraction of approximately 5,000 tonnes of vein material. The material was processed through a mobile crushing and screening plant, followed by DMS testing. The trial results are used to support the proposed processing route for vein material.
Metallurgical testwork
Heavy liquid separation tests were performed on vein-material samples at a range of specific gravities. Stratification tests were conducted to assess separation efficiency in a DMS environment. Spiral tests were completed to evaluate recovery of fine manganese particles. Comminution tests provided data on crushing and grinding characteristics, including work index values for the vein material. All testwork was conducted on samples collected from the project area.
Key reported parameters
| Parameter | Value | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Colluvial plant throughput | 80 t/h | Historical operating data |
| Colluvial feed grade | 20–25% Mn | Historical operating data |
| Colluvial concentrate grade | 38–40% Mn | Historical operating data |
| Trial vein mining production | ~5,000 tonnes | Trial mining |
| Proposed DMS testwork | Heavy liquid separation | Metallurgical testwork |
| Proposed spiral testwork | Fine particle recovery | Metallurgical testwork |
| Comminution tests | Work index values | Metallurgical testwork |
Technical qualifications
The report states that mineral resource estimates, mineral reserve estimates, and detailed mining method descriptions are provided in other sections of the technical report. The processing and metallurgical sections specifically note that the recovery methods section includes both the proposed plant design and the historical operating results. The report does not include a definitive feasibility study; the processing information is based on preliminary testwork and historical data only. The qualifications of the report authors and qualified persons are not included in this draft, as per the source restrictions.
Source: NI 43-101 Technical Report, BMC Manganese, Gold, Tin Project, Rondônia, NW Brazil, dated August 26, 2016. Relevant sections: 1.8 Recovery Methods, 13 Mineral Processing and Metallurgical Testing, 16 Mining Methods, 17 Recovery Methods.
