Emerita Resources has provided an update on the metallurgical testing program for its wholly-owned Iberian Belt West (IBW) Project. Conducted in collaboration with Wardell Armstrong International and SRK Consulting, Phase I of the program aimed to demonstrate the production of commercial-grade concentrates from the La Romanera and La Infanta deposits, which are part of the NI 43-101 mineral resource estimate. The IBW Project hosts three massive sulphide deposits: La Infanta, La Romanera, and El Cura.
Phase I focused on producing separate copper, lead, and zinc concentrates through a sequential test methodology. While the distribution of gold and silver within various test products was tracked, specific gold and silver recovery testing was not the primary focus. Nonetheless, the data provided valuable insights for optimizing precious metals recovery. The Phase I results showed up to 48.6% silver and 17.2% gold recoveries in different products. Additionally, the project demonstrated excellent average recoveries of 85.6% for zinc, 62% for copper, and 59% for lead, achieving commercial-grade concentrates from both La Romanera and La Infanta deposits. These results are in line with, and even exceed, the metallurgical performance of other polymetallic ores currently in production in the Iberian Belt.
Emerita Resources has now initiated Phase II of the program, again in collaboration with Wardell Armstrong International, with two main objectives:
- Ratify Phase I Data: Conduct closed-circuit flotation tests using new average samples from each deposit and their possible mixtures during the life of the mine.
- Increase Gold Recoveries: Focus on improving gold recoveries at the La Romanera deposit through two strategies:
- Determine geochemical conditions that allow the existence of free gold forming electrum.
- Concentrate gold by differential pyrite/arsenopyrite flotation on the Romanera flotation tailings.
Phase II aims to optimize gold and silver recoveries to a target of 60% or more. 
