The Renison tin mine, operated by Bluestone Mines Limited, is the largest operating tin mine in Australia. This project is assessing the degree of fractionation of ore phases (cassiterite, sphalerite, galena, chalcopyrite) during breakage to evaluate the upgrade potential of specific ore domains in a Grade Engineering® context. This study builds on a low-cost geometallurgical screening test developed by CRC ORE to identify upgrade potential in drill core by utilising multi-element assay, calculated mineralogy, XRD and MLA techniques for full mineralogical characterisation. Mineralogical relationships between ore and gangue phases were defined to evaluate the specific mineralogical drivers controlling ore fractionation in these samples.

The project has assessed the amenability of specific ore types for upgrading mill feed using size-based screening and other separation technologies. The project will be completed during 2018 with a confidential report provided to CRC ORE and Bluestone Mines Limited.