Assay results from copper ore samples taken from Marula Mining’s Kinusi copper mine in Tanzania have confirmed the high-grade copper content of the concentrates currently stockpiled and ready for sale.
The results, received from an independent internationally accredited laboratory, show an average copper grade of 21.54% across three samples, with individual assay grades of 20.21%, 21.77%, and 22.64% copper.
The samples, each weighing 10 kg, were collected from the Kinusi No. 4 open pit during the fourth quarter of 2024.
These assays were part of the process to finalize initial copper ore trial shipments and sales of up to 1,000 tons to global commodity trading groups based in Switzerland and the UK.
With these assay results confirming the high-grade copper mineralization of the stockpiled concentrates, Marula is now in a position to finalize initial sales agreements, which had been delayed. The company had initially aimed to complete these copper sales by January 31, but the timing has been extended to allow for further processing following the assay results.
In addition to facilitating sales, the assay results will inform the design optimization of the Phase 1 and Phase 2 processing plants at Kinusi.
Phase 1 of the project involves a gravity concentrate, coarse jigging, and fines dewatering circuit, which is expected to produce 24,000 tons per year of high-grade copper concentrate. The awarding and commissioning of this circuit are on schedule for completion in the first quarter of 2025.
Phase 2 will introduce a hydrometallurgy fines-optimized heap leaching circuit, copper solvent extraction, and electrowinning refining process to produce an initial 10,200 tons per year of copper cathode.
