The samples set aside for the Super Composites (SC) were blended to form the four composites used for the initial flowsheet development program. Each SC was crushed to 100% passing 10 mesh and rotary split into 2 kg charges and a reject fraction.
A flowchart summarizing the sample preparation procedure is presented here below. Eighteen split-core drill holes and two whole core hole intervals were delivered to a Lab for metallurgical and grind testing respectively. The metallurgical samples were subdivided into 44 variability composites for the mapping variability program. Each variability composite contained samples from a single hole. The samples comprising each Variability Composite (VC) were crushed to -3/4″ and blended.
A 2-3 kg sample was split out from each VC for SAG Power Index (SPI) testing. In addition, coarse particles were removed for SAG Mill Comminution (SMC) drop weight testing with the test reject and any unused sample being returned to the blended composite. Each composite was then crushed to 100% passing 6 mesh. A specified weight from each VC was split out to form the Super Composites, as detailed in Table 5-3. Where enough VC sample remained, an additional 8 kg sample was cut for Bond Ball Work Index testing. The remaining samples were bagged and freezer-stored.
