NexMetals Reports Metallurgical Results Confirming Separate High Grade Saleable Cu-Ni-PGE Concentrates and Demonstrating Improved Recoveries at Selkirk

Original announcement by tmx on

Company
NexMetals Mining Corp.
Ticker
NEXM
Exchange
TSX
Region
Botswana
Primary commodity
Copper
Secondary commodities
Nickel, Platinum, Palladium, Gold, Silver, Cobalt
Document categories
Metallurgy
Extracted
2026-09-12 14:58:51 UTC

Analysis by Minestarters Atlas

Minestarters Atlas analysis

Summary

NexMetals has reported successful Locked Cycle Test (LCT) results at the Selkirk Project in Botswana, confirming the ability to produce separate high-grade copper and nickel concentrates. The results show significant improvements in copper recovery and nickel concentrate grade compared to the 2024 Mineral Resource Estimate parameters.

Reasoning: The LCT results demonstrate a significant technical improvement over the parameters used in the 2024 MRE, specifically in copper recovery and nickel concentrate grade, while validating a new sequential flotation flowsheet.

Positive factors

  • Improved copper recovery (81.3% vs 70.0% in 2024 MRE)
  • Significant increase in nickel concentrate grade (10.9% vs 6.8% in 2024 MRE)
  • Successful production of separate Cu and Ni concentrates
  • Reduction in copper losses to tailings (11.4% vs 26.2%)
  • Identification of additional payable metals (Ag, Co, PGEs)

Negative factors

  • Nickel recovery (54.4%) is relatively low compared to copper

Facts used in scoring: 4

Classification and evidence

Mill Routeneutral

Processing via mill or concentrator (CIL, CIP, tank leach, flotation).

Why it applies: The results are from a flotation circuit (LCT) involving grinding and cleaning stages.

Evidence · text

“This new phase of flotation testwork”

QA/QC Disclosedpositive · Story-specific tag

Release includes QA/QC disclosure — certified lab, QP sign-off, or stated methods (blanks, standards, duplicates).

Why it applies: The release details specific QA/QC protocols including blanks, standards, and accredited laboratory oversight.

Evidence · text

“Commercially prepared blank samples and certified Cu/Ni sulphide analytical control standards are inserted in every batch”

Multi-Domain Testedpositive

Variability across ore domains (oxide, transition, fresh) has been addressed.

Why it applies: 2 distinct composites were tested

Extracted facts

Stored fact records: 4. Some facts used in scoring do not have a stored record.

Metallurgical Results (4)

flotationSelkirk · copperRecovery: 81.3 %Head Grade: 0.26Head Grade Unit: %View all details
Link to this fact

Identity

Project
Selkirk
Commodity
copper
Region
botswana
Reported Region
Botswana
Ticker
NEXM

Test Work

Program Status
detailed
Test Type
flotation
Processing Route
sequential flotation
Sample
Cu Cleaner 3 Conc (LCT)
Grind P80
14 µm

Recovery

Recovery
81.3 %
Head Grade
0.26
Head Grade Unit
%
Conc. Grade
30.2
Conc. Grade Unit
%
Mass Pull
0.7 %

Lab

Laboratory
Blue Coast Research

Review

Needs Review
No
Historical
No

Dates

Event date
2026-04-27T00:00:00.000Z

Reasoning: High recovery and grade for a copper concentrate in a sequential flotation circuit.

Positive factors

  • 81.3% recovery is a significant improvement over 70% in 2024 MRE

Evidence · table

“81.3”

Context: 0.70

Tags used in scoring

Mill Routeneutral

Processing via mill or concentrator (CIL, CIP, tank leach, flotation).

Why it applies: processing_route matches the flotation signal

flotationSelkirk · nickelRecovery: 54.4 %Head Grade: 0.24Head Grade Unit: %View all details
Link to this fact

Identity

Project
Selkirk
Commodity
nickel
Region
botswana
Reported Region
Botswana
Ticker
NEXM

Test Work

Program Status
detailed
Test Type
flotation
Processing Route
sequential flotation
Sample
Ni Cleaner 3 Conc (LCT)
Grind P80
31 µm

Recovery

Recovery
54.4 %
Head Grade
0.24
Head Grade Unit
%
Conc. Grade
10.9
Conc. Grade Unit
%
Mass Pull
1.21 %

Lab

Laboratory
Blue Coast Research

Review

Needs Review
No
Historical
No

Dates

Event date
2026-04-27T00:00:00.000Z

Reasoning: Strong improvement in concentrate grade, though recovery remains a focus for optimization.

Positive factors

  • Nickel concentrate grade of 10.9% is a 60% increase over 2024 MRE inputs

Negative factors

  • Nickel recovery of 54.4% is moderate

Evidence · table

“54.4”

Context: 1.21

Tags used in scoring

Mill Routeneutral

Processing via mill or concentrator (CIL, CIP, tank leach, flotation).

Why it applies: processing_route matches the flotation signal

Low Recoverynegative

Recovery below the weak band for the commodity and processing route.

Why it applies: 54.4% is below the weak band (75%)

flotationSelkirk · platinumRecovery: 15 %Head Grade: 0.09Head Grade Unit: g/tView all details
Link to this fact

Identity

Project
Selkirk
Commodity
platinum
Region
botswana
Reported Region
Botswana
Ticker
NEXM

Test Work

Program Status
detailed
Test Type
flotation
Processing Route
sequential flotation
Sample
Cu Cleaner 3 Conc (LCT)

Recovery

Recovery
15 %
Head Grade
0.09
Head Grade Unit
g/t
Conc. Grade
1.91
Conc. Grade Unit
g/t
Mass Pull
0.7 %

Lab

Laboratory
Blue Coast Research

Review

Needs Review
No
Historical
No

Dates

Event date
2026-04-27T00:00:00.000Z

Reasoning: PGE credits in the copper concentrate.

Evidence · table

“15.0”

Context: 0.70

Tags used in scoring

Mill Routeneutral

Processing via mill or concentrator (CIL, CIP, tank leach, flotation).

Why it applies: processing_route matches the flotation signal

flotationSelkirk · palladiumRecovery: 60.1 %Head Grade: 0.42Head Grade Unit: g/tView all details
Link to this fact

Identity

Project
Selkirk
Commodity
palladium
Region
botswana
Reported Region
Botswana
Ticker
NEXM

Test Work

Program Status
detailed
Test Type
flotation
Processing Route
sequential flotation
Sample
Cu Cleaner 3 Conc (LCT)

Recovery

Recovery
60.1 %
Head Grade
0.42
Head Grade Unit
g/t
Conc. Grade
36.2
Conc. Grade Unit
g/t
Mass Pull
0.7 %

Lab

Laboratory
Blue Coast Research

Review

Needs Review
No
Historical
No

Dates

Event date
2026-04-27T00:00:00.000Z

Reasoning: Significant palladium credits in copper concentrate.

Evidence · table

“60.1”

Context: 0.70

Tags used in scoring

Mill Routeneutral

Processing via mill or concentrator (CIL, CIP, tank leach, flotation).

Why it applies: processing_route matches the flotation signal

How Atlas produces this analysis

Minestarters Atlas uses automated extraction to summarize mining announcements, identify reported measurements, and classify supporting evidence. Sentiment reflects the extracted narrative and classification rules; it is an interpretation, not a reported measurement. Evidence quotes and context are provided where available. Missing data, low-confidence results, and review flags indicate limitations. Check the original publisher announcement before relying on an interpretation.