FEASIBILITY STUDIES
At Innovative Metallurgy we offer a full range of metallurgical study services, including scoping, pre-feasibility and feasibility studies, each with increasing levels of accuracy and technical detail:
- Scoping Study: Provides an initial assessment to an accuracy of approximately ±50%.
- Prefeasibility Study: Improves accuracy to about ±25% and includes more detailed work than in a scoping study.
- Feasibility Study: Provides a high confidence assessment with an accuracy of ±15% to support final process design and investment decisions.
Scoping studies
Scoping studies are based on limited metallurgical testwork to develop a preliminary flowsheet and define processing assumptions. These studies evaluate how resource materials respond to standard processes such as froth flotation, gravity concentration and leaching, and provide initial estimates of metal recoveries and concentrate grades.
Pre-feasibility studies
Pre-feasibility studies build on scoping level results and include metallurgical testwork using composite drill core samples from key ore types. These studies include
- Chemical and mineralogical analysis
- Bench scale testing of recovery methods such as flotation, agitated cyanidation and heap leaching.
- Development of a preliminary flowsheet, material balance and process design criteria covering ore hardness, grind size, retention times, reagent consumption, metal recoveries and concentrate grades.
Feasibility Studies
Feasibility studies refine and expand on pre-feasibility work, providing definitive data to finalise flowsheets, material balances and process designs. Metallurgical testing is carried out on composite drill core samples to evaluate performance across ore types, taking into account variations in grade, hardness, impurities, lithology and spatial distribution. In some cases, dedicated metallurgical drill holes are used to obtain representative bulk samples for extensive testing.
Using a structured, phased approach, we ensure that each stage of the study builds on the last, providing robust technical and economic insights to support project development and investment decisions.
Reach out to our team, and we can help you take your mining project to the next level!