Ironveld (AIM:IRON), the AIM-listed mining development company producing strategic metals for mineral processing applications, said its DMS plant has entered sustained production.
The plant now runs continuously for 16 hours a day on a double shift, processing between 2.5 and 3.5 tonnes per hour against a design capacity of 5 tonnes per hour.
It is averaging 1.4 tonnes per hour of in-specification DMS grade magnetite, alongside approximately 1 tonne per hour of maghemite, a weathered form of magnetite used as a weighting material in oil, gas and mining drilling muds.
Ironveld said recovering maghemite could open an additional revenue stream and improve the plant's overall economics.
The company is tuning plant parameters to reach the full 5 tonnes per hour throughput target by the end of July while maintaining magnetite quality.
Separately, Mintek, South Africa's national mineral research organisation, is progressing a mineralogical study of the Layer 21 core, with samples being prepared for scanning electron microscope examination ahead of grade analysis.
Initial results are expected within 30 days, after which Ironveld will develop a process flow sheet and assess the economic viability of processing Layer 21 ore.
"Achieving sustained production and consistent product quality is a significant milestone", said chief executive Kris Andersson, adding that the company has secured three clients with repeat orders and inbound demand that "could outstrip what we can produce with the current plant, even at full capacity".
That demand has prompted Ironveld to begin evaluating options for expanding the plant's capacity.
The company said it will update the market on the Layer 21 assay results and further production ramp-up milestones as they arise.
