Australian lithium explorer and developer Wildcat Resources Limited (ASX: WC8) ('Wildcat' or the 'Company') is pleased to announce excellent metallurgical test work results from the Leia Pegmatite, which continues to demonstrate the growing value of its Tabba Tabba Lithium Project, near Port Hedland, in the Pilbara region of Western Australia.
Managing Director AJ Saverimutto said: 'Wildcat is extremely pleased with the results and direction obtained from our initial diagnostic test work program into the metallurgy of the Tabba Tabba Lithium Project. The initial results provide a simple process option, proving that high-grade saleable concentrates can be generated with outstanding spodumene recoveries. We are confident that further metallurgical optimisations leading towards our Pre-Feasibility Study will continue to improve the robustness of Tabba Tabba's geometallurgical model and favourable project economics. We would like to thank BHM Process Consultants and Nagrom for their outstanding work.
Background
Tabba Tabba is near some of the world's largest hard-rock lithium mines, 47km from Pilbara Minerals' (ASX: PLS) 414Mt Pilgangoora Project1, 87km from Mineral Resources (ASX: MIN) 259Mt Wodgina Project2 and is only 80km by road to Port Hedland's port and located on granted Mining Leases. Metallurgical test work was undertaken at Nagrom in Perth, WA directed by BHM Process Consultants ('BHM'). BHM has worked closely on some of Australia's biggest lithium deposits including Pilgangoora, Altura/Ngungaju, Mount Holland and Bald Hill with significant experience in spodumene metallurgical test work, processing and commissioning. Nathan Stoitis from Extreme Metallurgy acted as a third-party peer review for this work. Nathan graduated from the WA School of Mines and has over 25 years of experience as a metallurgist. He has managed many test work programs across multiple commodities and advises mining and consulting companies globally in all aspects of mineral processing. The metallurgical test work program aimed to generate preliminary product grade and recovery figures from industry-standard processing routes of Dense Media Separation (DMS), Dual Hybrid DMSFlotation and Whole of Ore Flotation pathways. The Master Composite consists of samples from nine diamond drillholes for a final 288kg composite. Samples were selected from available holes in December 2023 across 600m of strike length through the central zone of the Leia pegmatite from hanging-wall to foot-wall inclusive of some hanging wall material from the Chewy Pegmatites. The samples are spread laterally and vertically to account for spatial variability
Whole of Ore Flotation
The Whole of Ore Flotation process was conducted at an initial selected grind size of P80 150-microm. The Whole of Ore flotation route yielded excellent results by which concentrates of 5.5% and 6.0% Li2O were generated at flotation unit operation recoveries of 89.5% and 86.8%, respectively. That is, 89.5% of the Li2O in the feed to the flotation test was recovered to the combined concentrate. Given the excellent performance of the P80 150-microm flotation tests, additional tests were conducted at P80 180-microm and P80 212-microm . These single tests produced a 6.0% Li2O concentrate at recoveries comparable to the P80 150-microm test
Dense Media Separation (DMS)
A standalone DMS process was investigated via Heavy Liquid Separation (HLS) testing with an operational mindset by which the natural and crush fines bypass the system via feed screening prior to determining the ultimate DMS potential. The HLS identified that the optimal crush size was 2.8mm to generate a high grade (>6.0% Li2O) concentrate and maximise recovery. The bulk trial was undertaken with a 92kg of Master Composite processed through a DMS250 unit with a closing screen of 0.85mm. This yielded an overall flowsheet recovery of 28.5% of the entering process lithium reporting to a concentrate of 5.49% Li2O at an operating media specific gravity cut of 2.9 SG. HLS results indicate there is a very high grade (>7.0% Li2O) liberated component within the ore at a coarse crush size. However, the crushing and screening distributions in the high-grade composites are heavily outweighed by the proportion associated with the natural and crush fines. Although the standalone DMS process requires further investigation, it is unlikely that DMS only is a viable processing solution.
Hybrid DMS & Flotation Processing
A hybrid Dense Media Separation and combined rejects / undersize flotation process pathway (similar to the Pilgangoora Phase 1 flowsheet) has been interpreted from the bulk DMS performance and flotation testing on the combined feed streams of fines and DMS rejects. The modelling of a hybrid DMS and flotation process flow sheet suggests that a clean spodumene concentrate grading 5.86% Li2O could be produced at a recovery of 76.6%. Whilst this is an excellent result, better results have been achieved with a simpler whole of ore flotation flowsheet which was able to achieve exceptional grades of 6.0% and higher (6.17%). Additionally, whole of ore floatation is less capital intensive than the hybrid option indicating that this is the preferred process option.
Next Steps
Wildcat is selecting bulk composite and variability sample material from the available drill core to
commence the PFS Study test work focusing on: Expanded metallurgical testing program to refine the process flow sheet and enhance key performance indicators.
Thorough understanding of resource variability and comprehensive variability composites.
Grind size optimisation.
Investigate viability of ore sorting test work for pegmatites other than Leia.
Targeted recovery improvement test work via: o Optimise reagent dosage flotation programs. o Locked cycle recovery improvement testing.
Engineering test work to define physical property characteristics of the feed, concentrate and tailings.
Test work utilising site water.
This announcement has been authorised by the Board of Directors of the Company.
Contact:
Mr. AJ Saverimutto
Managing Director
Tel: +61 (8) 6555 2950
Email: info@wildcatresources.com.au
Mr. Matthew Banks
Executive Director
Tel: +61 (8) 6555 2950
Email: info@wildcatresources.com.au
Nathan Ryan
NWR Communications
Tel: +61 420 582 887
About Tabba Tabba
The Tabba Tabba Lithium-Tantalum Project is an advanced lithium and tantalum exploration project that is located on granted Mining Leases just 80km by road from the port of Port Hedland, Western Australia. It is nearby some of the world's largest hard-rock lithium mines (47km by road from the 414Mt Pilgangoora Project1 and 87km by road to the 259Mt Wodgina Project2). The Tabba Tabba project was one of four significant LCT pegmatite projects in WA, previously owned by Sons of Gwalia. The others were Greenbushes, Pilgangoora and Wodgina which are now Tier-1 hard-rock lithium mines. Tabba Tabba is the last of these assets to be explored for lithium mineralisation.
Forward-Looking Statements
This document may include forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements concerning Wildcat Resources Limited's planned exploration programme and other statements that are not historical facts. When used in this document, the words such as 'could,' 'plan,' 'estimate,' 'expect,' 'intend,' 'may', 'potential,' 'should,' and similar expressions are forward-looking statements. Although Wildcat Resources Limited believes that its expectations reflected in these forwardlooking statements are reasonable, such statements involve risks and uncertainties and no assurance can be given that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements.
Competent Person's Statement
The information in this announcement that relates to Exploration Results for Tabba Tabba Project is based on, and fairly represents, information compiled by Mr Torrin Rowe, a Competent Person who is a Member of the Australian Institute of Geoscientists (AIG). Mr Rowe is a fulltime employee of Wildcat Resources Limited. Mr Rowe has sufficient experience that is relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration, and to the activity being undertaken to qualify as a Competent Person as defined in the 2012 Edition of the JORC Code. Mr Rowe consents to the inclusion in the report of the matters based on his information in the form and context in which it appears. The information in this release that relates to metallurgy and metallurgical test work has been reviewed by Mr Steven Hoban. Mr Hoban is not an employee of the Company but is employed by BHM Process Consultants who are providing services as an independent contract consultant. Mr Hoban is a member of the AusIMM with over 25 years' experience. He has sufficient experience with the style of processing, type of deposit under consideration, and the activities undertaken, to qualify as a competent person as defined in the 2012 edition of the 'Australian Code for the Reporting of Exploration Results, Mineral Resources andOre Reserves' (The JORC Code). Mr Hoban consents to the inclusion in this report of the contained technical information in the form and context as it appears.
WILDCAT RESOURCES LIMITED 
