Critical Minerals Group has kicked off metallurgical test work to gauge the most efficient processing flow sheet for ore from its Lindfield vanadium project in the Julia Creek region.

It comes as the company expands its footprint in the area, with the Queensland Department of Resources granting an EPM for the nearby Whinmoor project.

“We are excited to commence this metallurgical test work which is an important phase in the development of the Lindfield project,” Critical Minerals Group managing director Scott Drelincourt said.

“The ability to conduct metallurgical testing at this stage of the project advances the value of the project significantly as flow sheet design will also impact mining planning and ore treatment.

“This activity illustrates that work at the Lindfield project is advancing well. Further, the granting of the significant area under the EPM at the Whinmoor project will certainly look to further bolster the company’s resource base around its flagship Lindfield project.”

CMG commenced trading on the ASX in September last year after an initial public offering which raised $5 million.

Japanese mining giant Idemitsu made a $2.8 million cornerstone investment in the Queensland-based junior.

The Lindfield project has a shallow inferred JORC resource of 210Mt at 0.39 per cent V2O5 (vanadium pentoxide) and sits among a raft of advanced vanadium ventures in the Julia Creek region involving companies including QEM, Multicom, Vecco Group and Richmond Vanadium Technology.

During the last quarter of 2022, CMG completed a maiden drilling program at Lindfield comprising 23 aircore holes, one open hole and three water monitoring holes.

This was designed to strengthen the geological understanding of the extent of the mineralisation there and provide material for metallurgical testing.

Additional test work will be undertaken by a laboratory specialising in High Purity Aluminium (HPA) production and technology, to determine suitability of ore from Lindfield as a feedstock for HPA.

CMG has also applied for EPMs for the Lindfield North and Lara Downs tenements in the Julia Creek region.