Overview
The Rex Property, situated in the Alberni Mining Division of British Columbia, Canada, represents a significant exploration-stage mining project managed by Rex Resources Corp. This asset, spanning approximately 1,562.36 hectares, is centered at -124.97° Longitude and 49.18° Latitude, placing it within the prolific geological environment of Vancouver Island. The project is strategically located near Port Alberni, an area with a rich history of resource extraction and well-established infrastructure, including proximity to deep-water ports and the regional power grid. The property’s geological setting is characterized by the Insular Belt and the Wrangellia Terrane, specifically featuring the Bonanza Group volcanics and the Island Plutonic Suite, which are renowned for hosting high-grade skarn and porphyry-style mineralization.
Historically, the area encompassing the Rex Property has been the subject of intermittent exploration since the early 20th century, with notable efforts by companies like Nahminto Resources Inc. and Broadstone Resources Inc. The project comprises several mineral claims, including REX 1, REX NE, and REX WEST, which have shown promising indicators for copper, gold, silver, and vanadium. As Rex Resources Corp. moves forward with its current NI 43-101 technical mandates, the focus has shifted toward synthesizing historical geophysical, geochemical, and geological data into a modern GIS database. This transition is a critical precursor to advanced metallurgical testing and the eventual design of a dedicated mineral processing circuit tailored to the unique multi-metallic signature of the Rex ore bodies.
Key Process Stages
Developing a robust mineral processing circuit for the Rex Property requires a focus on maximizing the recovery of gold, silver, and copper while maintaining operational efficiency. Based on current exploration data and the geological similarity to other high-capacity British Columbia assets, the following process stages are envisioned for the project’s development phase:
- Primary Crushing: Integration of a high-capacity gyratory crusher (such as an MKIII 60-110E) to handle large-diameter run-of-mine (ROM) feed and reduce material to a manageable size for secondary processing.
- Secondary and Tertiary Grinding: Implementation of High-Pressure Grinding Rolls (HPGR), specifically the HRC3000 model, to optimize energy efficiency. This stage uses inter-particle compression to create micro-fractures in the ore, significantly reducing the work index for subsequent ball milling.
- Ball Milling: A closed-circuit grinding system utilizing large-scale ball mills (e.g., BM 28×48) operating in conjunction with hydro-cyclone clusters to achieve a target P80 grind size, ensuring optimal liberation of sulphide minerals.
- Rougher Flotation: Utilization of high-volume tank cells to separate the bulk concentrate from the tailings, targeting the primary copper and gold-bearing sulphides.
- Regrinding and Cleaning: The rougher concentrate undergoes further size reduction in a regrind circuit before entering cleaner flotation stages to upgrade the product to a saleable concentrate grade.
- Cyanidation and CIP (Optional): For high-gold-value sectors of the deposit, a Carbon-in-Pulp (CIP) or Carbon-in-Leach (CIL) circuit may be integrated to recover precious metals from the flotation tailings or dedicated oxide ore streams.
- Tailings Management: Thickening of final tailings to over 60% solids followed by filtration (pressure or belt filters) to produce dry-stackable tailings, minimizing environmental footprints and solution migration.
Critical Data
The following technical parameters represent the design criteria and simulated performance metrics for a high-efficiency circuit suitable for the scale of operations envisioned at advanced British Columbia copper-gold assets like the Rex Project.
| Parameter | Value | Unit |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Crusher Throughput (MKIII 60-110E) | 8,100 | t/h |
| HPGR Capacity (HRC3000) | 4,583 | t/h |
| Ball Mill Power (BM 28×48) | 20,519 | kW |
| Primary Grind Size (P80) | 125 – 150 | µm |
| Target Gold Recovery | 91.0 – 95.1 | % |
| Target Silver Recovery | 77.0 – 86.1 | % |
| Target Copper Recovery | 86.1 – 88.0 | % |
| Thickener Underflow Density | 62.0 | % Solids |
| Pressure Filter Cake Moisture | 15.5 | % |
| Proposed Exploration Budget (Current Phase) | 209,275 | CAD |
Technical Details and Sustainability
The technical evolution of the Rex Property is heavily dependent on the application of modern comminution and recovery technologies. One of the most critical aspects of the proposed flowsheet is the use of the HRC3000 HPGR. This technology is increasingly preferred for hard-rock deposits in British Columbia because it addresses the high work indices often associated with Wrangellia Terrane volcanics. By utilizing HRC3000 units, the project can achieve a “softening” of the ore, where the energy required for the final ball milling stage is reduced by up to 20% through the introduction of internal micro-fractures. This not only lowers operational costs but also significantly decreases the carbon footprint of the milling facility, aligning the Rex Project with global sustainability standards.
Environmental stewardship and social responsibility are core pillars of the Rex Property’s development strategy. Rex Resources Corp. has prioritized the identification of potential environmental liabilities; currently, no significant accrued liabilities from historical activities have been observed. Future development will necessitate a comprehensive “Notice of Work” under the British Columbia Mines Act, which includes site reclamation plans and archaeological assessments. Furthermore, the company recognizes the importance of engagement with local First Nations communities. Establishing early and transparent communication is essential for securing social license and ensuring that the project benefits all local stakeholders.
From a sustainability perspective, the project’s focus on “dry-stack” tailings management is a forward-thinking choice. By utilizing pressure filters to achieve high solids density (approaching 85% for specific tailings fractions), the project eliminates the need for large-scale liquid tailings dams, which are often the primary source of environmental concern in mountain regions. This approach not only enhances geotechnical stability but also maximizes water recycling within the plant, reducing the need for fresh make-up water from local aquifers. As the Rex Property transitions from exploration to advanced development, these technical and sustainable strategies will be the determining factors in its long-term viability and success within the competitive Canadian mining landscape.
Source: Rex
Source: NI 43-101 Technical Report
This article provides an overview of mineral processing developments based on publicly available technical reports and industry analysis.
