Nevada Zinc has kicked off a bulk operation to produce zinc sulphate monohydrate as part of a pilot plant programme.

The bulk operation is expected to produce approximately 150 pounds of commercial-grade zinc sulphate monohydrate product. It will also include a cost analysis of the process flowsheet, focusing on capital and operating costs.

Nevada Zinc is considering a flowsheet which uses gravity concentration instead of a flotation circuit. It includes several stages, starting with ore crushing and grinding, and then moving into gravity concentration, leaching and neutralisation, cementation and solvent extraction, and concluding with crystallisation.

The company anticipates the bulk operation phase to be completed in the March quarter. Nevada Zinc began the multiphase pilot plant programme in March 2021. Nevada Zinc initially anticipated the programme to take six months to complete.

The programme includes a preliminary assessment and review of recovering and purifying zinc from a bulk sample containing zinc carbonate and silicate mineralisation.

The company is working with Colorado-based Hazen Research to conduct the programme.

Zinc sulphate produced at Nevada Zinc's Lone Mountain zinc project in Nevada will be sold to the U.S. agricultural market, chief executive Max Vichniakov said.

In mid-2020, Nevada Copper signed a deal with U.S. granular nutrients producer and distributor Cameron Chemicals.

The two companies will work together to create a range of zinc-based micronutrient products, which will be marketed by Cameron Chemicals and sold through its networks.