Horizonte Minerals (LON:HZM, CVE:HZM) said the completed metallurgical test programme for its Araguaia nickel project in northern Brazil has returned “excellent results”. It reveals the Araguaia’s ore is suitable for treatment in a rotary kiln electric furnace, established technology with a 60-year track record. What comes out the other end of the furnace is a ferronickel grading 15-17%, which meets the requirements of the world’s stainless steel plants. The data will now be fed into a pre-feasibility study to be carried out in the second half of the year. Chief executive Jeremy Martin said: "Our metallurgical test programme at Araguaia has returned excellent results and its completion is a major de-risking milestone for the Company. “This work confirms the decision to proceed with the pre-feasibility study based on conventional rotary kiln electric furnace, processing through the application of the tried and tested technology, currently used across some 19 plants around the world for nickel production. "There are a number of nickel projects out there today that due to the chemical composition of the deposit or isolated locations with limited access to power, are not amenable to the rotary kiln electric furnace or other proven processes and as such have to look at new technologies many of which are not commercially proven. “This is the major difference between Araguaia and many of its peer group. "The next step is to award the PFS contract, for which we are in the final stages and commence the study with a view to completion in 2014."

Horizonte Minerals (LON:HZM, CVE:HZM) said the completed metallurgical test programme for its Araguaia nickel project in northern Brazil has returned “excellent results”.

It reveals the Araguaia’s ore is suitable for treatment in a rotary kiln electric furnace, established technology with a 60-year track record.

What comes out the other end of the furnace is a ferronickel grading 15-17%, which meets the requirements of the world’s stainless steel plants.

The data will now be fed into a pre-feasibility study to be carried out in the second half of the year.

Chief executive Jeremy Martin said: "Our metallurgical test programme at Araguaia has returned excellent results and its completion is a major de-risking milestone for the Company.  

“This work confirms the decision to proceed with the pre-feasibility study based on conventional rotary kiln electric furnace, processing through the application of the tried and tested technology, currently used across some 19 plants around the world for nickel production.

 "There are a number of nickel projects out there today that due to the chemical composition of the deposit or isolated locations with limited access to power, are not amenable to the rotary kiln electric furnace or other proven processes and as such have to look at new technologies many of which are not commercially proven.  “This is the major difference between Araguaia and many of its peer group.

 "The next step is to award the PFS contract, for which we are in the final stages and commence the study with a view to completion in 2014."