KBL Mining has produced both a saleable lead and zinc concentrate from the initial ore from A lode at the Mineral Hill mine in Central West New South Wales. It is the first time zinc concentrate has been produced from the mine and involved converting the copper circuit to a zinc circuit.

A one week process trial to produce a saleable lead and zinc concentrate began on December 1. Preliminary results indicate that the performance through the plant is meeting expectations.

Feed grades from the initial A lode ore have been in line with grade control assays for the 1040 level at 6.4% lead and 2.7% zinc. Assay results thus far have confirmed recoveries at 87% for lead and 55% for zinc.

These initial results are considered highly encouraging with further improvements, particularly for zinc recovery expected from optimization which is in progress.

The ability to process polymetallic ore from the recently exposed A lode is a major milestone for Mineral Hill mine. With minimal changes to the existing process plant, the copper circuit was converted to a zinc circuit while the lead circuit remained unaltered. Concentrate production of the lead and zinc is then campaigned through the existing filter.

At the completion of the trial, the zinc circuit will be converted back to a copper circuit to produce saleable copper and lead concentrates once more. Moving forward, permanent modifications to cater for the production of all three concentrates are expected to be implemented in the next few months.