Testing Finds 'Positive' Results for Base Metal Recoveries in Spain
Emerita Resources Corp. (EMO:TSX.V; EMOTF:OTCQB; LLJA:FSE) announces results from a metallurgical testing program at its wholly-owned Iberian Belt West (IBW) project in Spain. Read why one expert says the company is in "the right place to be."
Emerita Resources Corp. (EMO:TSX.V; EMOTF:OTCQB; LLJA:FSE) announced that its Phase 2 metallurgical testing program for base metals at its wholly-owned Iberian Belt West (IBW) project in Spain found "positive" recoveries for two deposits that "exceeded published recoveries for the actively producing mines in the Iberian Pyrite Belt."
The testing used detailed data from Phase 1 and tested the bulk grades of La Infanta and La Romanera deposits to represent likely future production data for furthering economic analysis of the project, including a revised National Instrument 43-101-compliant mineral resource estimate (MRE).
"This work will provide the parameters for a commercial plant design that can produce three separate concentrates (copper, lead, and zinc) with both grades and recoveries that exceed published recoveries and concentrate grades from mining operations in the district," said Director of Metallurgy Jorge Blanco. "Improving the precious metals recoveries has potential to positively impact the project and represents an important opportunity that appears to be realizable based on the ongoing tests."
El Cura deposit is not included in the data, but sampling is underway there, the company said.
"Metallurgical test results of Phase 2 indicate that copper, lead, and zinc concentrates can be produced at commercial grades from both deposits," the company said in a release. "This represents an improvement relative to Phase 1, where a zinc concentrate and a semi-bulk copper-lead concentrate was produced."
La Infanta metallurgical test Phase 2 normalized data include:
Copper (Cu) Concentrate: 20.2% Cu Grade, 4.45 grams per tonne gold (g/t Au), 1,503 g/t silver (Ag), and 1.8% mass pull and 42.4% Cu Recovery.Lead (Pb) Concentrate: 35.5% Pb and 8.82% Cu Grade, 0.85 g/t Au, 524 g/t Ag, and 7.1% mass pull and 78.3% Pb and 39.7% Cu Recoveries.Zinc (Zn) Concentrate: 52.9% Zn Grade, 0.51 g/t Au, 84 g/t Ag, and 8.1% mass pull and 78,0% Zn Recovery.Total Precious Metal Recoveries: 50.9% Au and 88.2% Ag.La Romanera metallurgical test Phase 2 normalized data include:
Cu Concentrate: 20.1% Cu Grade, 4.12 g/t Au, 1,642g/t Ag, and 0.9% mass pull and 40.3% Cu Recovery.Pb Concentrate: 34.3% Pb and 2.9% Cu Grade, 2.88 g/t Au, 494 g/t Ag, and 2.6% mass pull and 58.4% Pb and 17.7% Cu Recoveries.Zn Concentrate: 52.6% Zn Grade, 1.25g/t Au, 138 g/t Ag, and 5.0% mass pull and 79.5% Zn Recovery.Total Precious Metal Recoveries: 12.3% Au and 46.4% Ag.Monazite associated with several elements belonging to the LREE (light rare earths, "lanthanides") was detected associated with La Infanta mineralization.
Government Designates Project as 'Strategic Interest'
As outlined in the company's investor presentation, Emerita's IBW project is bolstered by the Andalusian government's designation as a "strategic interest" project, which accelerates permitting.
The project is hosted within the renowned Iberian Pyrite Belt, one of the most productive volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) terranes in the world. The IBW Project encompasses three polymetallic deposits, from east to west: Infanta, El Cura, and Romanera.
In May 2023, Emerita released a maiden NI 43-101 compliant mineral resource estimate for La Romanera and La Infanta deposits, and last September applied for the exploitation concession derived from an investigation permit. In February 2024, the Company filed the application to present IBW as strategic for the region.
Technical Analyst Clive Maund emphasized the company's strategic positioning and recent accomplishments.*
"Emerita Resources is exploring and delineating a wide range of base and precious metal deposits, which is definitely the right place to be at this time with a massive broad-based commodities, and especially metals, bull market in prospect that has already begun," Maund wrote.
Additionally, Maund pointed out the positive business environment for resource companies in Europe, stating, "It is a big positive that the business environment for resource companies in Europe is improving."
The Catalyst: Copper Bulls Are Coming
Many metals are in demand for use in batteries and other related technologies as part of the energy transition. Electric vehicles (EVs) use as much as four times the copper as gas-powered cars. According to Credendo, demand for red metal could double by 2035.
"The main drivers are the revival in demand from Chinese manufacturers, the rebound of the global economy, and the boom in investments in green technologies (e.g., renewables and electric vehicles) and in AI technologies," the site reported last month.
A recent USA Today report said copper was up 12% on the year.
Streetwise Ownership Overview*
Emerita Resources Corp. (EMO:TSX.V; EMOTF:OTCQB; LLJA:FSE)
*Share Structureas of 8/21/2024Source: Emerita Resources Corp."Long-term optimism prevails, buoyed by potential supply imbalances and increasing demand for copper in green energy projects," Fastmarkets noted in an analysis on October 11.
UBS said increasingly tighter supplies of copper in the coming year could lead to a deficit of more than 200,000 tons in 2025, Mining.com reported.
Ownership and Share Structure
According to Reuters, Michael Lawrence Guy owns 1.54% of the company, David Patrick Gower owns 1.12%, Joaquin Merino-Marquez owns 0.84%, Catherine Stretch owns 0.65%, and Marilia Bento owns 0.4%.
Reuters reported that institutions own 1.19% of the company, including Merk Investments LLC, with 1.11%.
According to Refinitiv, there are 247.39 million shares outstanding with 234.7 million free float traded shares, while the company has a market cap of CA$141.32 million and trades in a 52-week range of CA$0.26 and CA$0.78.
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Important Disclosures:
Emerita Resrouces is a billboard sponsor of Streetwise Reports and pays SWR a monthly sponsorship fee between US$4,000 and US$5,000.Steve Sobek wrote this article for Streetwise Reports LLC and provides services to Streetwise Reports as an employee. This article does not constitute investment advice and is not a solicitation for any investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her personal financial adviser and perform their own comprehensive investment research. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports' terms of use and full legal disclaimer. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company.For additional disclosures, please click here.
* Disclosure for quotes from the Clive Maund article published on May 28, 2024
For the quoted article (published on May 28), the Company has paid Street Smart, an affiliate of Streetwise Reports, US$1,500.Author Certification and Compensation: [Clive Maund of clivemaund.com] is being compensated as an independent contractor by Street Smart, an affiliate of Streetwise Reports, for writing the article quoted. Maund received his UK Technical Analysts' Diploma in 1989. The recommendations and opinions expressed in the article accurately reflect the personal, independent, and objective views of the author regarding any and all of the designated securities discussed. No part of the compensation received by the author was, is, or will be directly or indirectly related to the specific recommendations or views expressedClivemaund.com Disclosures
The quoted article represents the opinion and analysis of Mr. Maund, based on data available to him, at the time of writing. Mr. Maund's opinions are his own, and are not a recommendation or an offer to buy or sell securities. As trading and investing in any financial markets may involve serious risk of loss, Mr. Maund recommends that you consult with a qualified investment advisor, one licensed by appropriate regulatory agencies in your legal jurisdiction and do your own due diligence and research when making any kind of a transaction with financial ramifications. Although a qualified and experienced stock market analyst, Clive Maund is not a Registered Securities Advisor. Therefore Mr. Maund's opinions on the market and stocks cannot be only be construed as a recommendation or solicitation to buy and sell securities.