Carnaby Resources has announced its Greater Duchess copper-gold project in Mount Isa, Queensland, is on track to complete its scoping study in early 2024.
Carnaby has also commenced metallurgical test work at Glencore’s Mount Isa copper mill and concentrator.
The test work and engagement with Glencore is ongoing and aims to assess the amenability of potential ore from Greater Duchess.
Carnaby’s scoping study aims to evaluate all potential future scenarios for mine development and process route options.
It will compare a standalone development to utilising third party processing facilities in the region as a low capital expenditure start up option.
There are a number of third-party processing facilities within the region that the company said could be considered economically viable for the Greater Duchess project, which it will continue to assess.
Carnaby also said the scoping study will almost certainly flow through into a prefeasibility study in early 2024, and the company remains highly optimistic that Greater Duchess will become a significant development project in the battery metals driven copper space.
“The Greater Duchess Project is centrally located in a mining friendly jurisdiction and is surrounded by world class infrastructure including rail, road, gas pipeline and a highly experienced and mine-ready workforce with abundant contract mining and haulage operators in the Mount Isa region,” the company said.
The Mount Hope, Nil Desperandum, and Lady Fanny major discoveries are standout prospects within the project, where broad high-grade copper mineralisation has been intersected at all three locations.
The tenement package also includes the historical Duchess copper-gold mine which produced approximately 205,000 tonnes at 12.5 per cent copper from 1900–1940.