A novel direct leach approach to extract Platinum group metals (PGM) from the Panton Sill PGM deposit in the Kimberley region of WA

The Challenge

The Panton Sill in WA’s Kimberly region contains a potential resource of 14.32 million tonnes of ore at 2.19 g/t Pt, 2.39 g/t Pd (for an estimated total contained resource of c. 2 Moz of Pt+Pd) and 0.31 g/t Au.

The distribution of this mineralisation across multiple thin stratiform reefs is not amenable to economic extraction by existing mineral processing technologies.

Key Findings

A viable method of extracting Platinum Group Metals (PGMs) from the Panton Sill deposit was developed by Curtin University.

The optimal method for processing the ore was to produce a flotation concentrate, followed by conventional roasting and an HCl/NaCl/H2O2 leach.

Extraction rates achieved were 97% Pt, 90% Pd and 97% Au.

Benefit to WA

Application of the identified methodology at scale may allow the development of a viable mining operation to extract the PGMs from the Panton Sill deposit.

Commercial exploitation of this resource would bring benefits to the state including employment and royalty revenue.

Keywords: Panton Sill deposit, Platinum Group Metals (PGM), mineral processing, flotation, ore, concentrate