Andrada Mining Reports Tungsten, Tin and Copper Grade Uplift from Brandberg West Ore Sorting Tests

• Tungsten grade increased from 0.24% to 1.45% in the best-performing sample, with an average concentrate grade of 1.02% across nine samples
• Tungsten recoveries reached up to 91%; tin recoveries reached up to 94%, with both exceeding 80% in multiple samples
• XRT ore sorting reduced total feed mass by 90% across all samples, which could lower capital expenditure, transportation, and milling costs
• Copper and tin also recorded grade uplifts, with tin rising from 0.31% to 2.09% and copper from 0.73% to 2.81% in their respective best-performing samples
• Partner BWCAM Limited may contribute up to USD51 million in staged funding in exchange for up to a 49% ownership stake in the project

Andrada Mining Limited (AIM: ATM, OTCQB: ATMTF) is a Namibia-based tin producer with a portfolio of critical minerals mining and exploration assets, operating across tin, lithium, tantalum, tungsten, and copper through strategic partnerships, with a focus on supplying critical raw materials for the green energy transition, including metals used in electric vehicles, solar panels, and wind turbines, while supporting communities near its operations.

Positive Initial Tungsten Ore Sorting Test Results

Early-stage ore sorting tests at the Brandberg West project returned grade increases across all nine samples, covering tungsten, tin, and copper. The samples, each weighing approximately 30 kilograms, were collected from previously blasted or waste material at various locations within the historical mining area. Processing was conducted using X-ray transmission (XRT) sorting technology at TOMRA's facilities, with concentrate and discard streams analysed by UIS Analytical Services, a certified independent laboratory.

Tungsten recorded the strongest results, with an average concentrate grade of 1.02% across the nine samples and recoveries of up to 91%. Recovery, as defined in the release, refers to the percentage of total metal content in the feed that is successfully captured in the concentrate. Tin recorded recoveries of up to 94%, while copper also showed consistent grade uplift, though at lower average recovery rates of 43%.

The company noted that due to the coarse nature of the mineralisation and the effects of weathering, the grab samples do not fully represent average grades at each location. 

CEO Anthony Viljoen commented: 

"The grades achieved in this testwork on the historically mined waste dumps are significantly higher than the global average for tungsten deposits with corresponding high recovery rates. This outcome reinforces our confidence as we advance toward larger-scale test batches and firmly positions tungsten as a cornerstone critical metal within Andrada's overall portfolio."

90% Mass Reduction and Processing Efficiency

A 90% reduction in feed mass at the sorting stage could translate to lower transportation and milling costs, and may offer an accelerated route to production given that the historical waste material is already available at surface in large volumes. This mass reduction was consistent across all nine samples tested.

As larger samples are processed and more data is gathered, recoveries are expected to improve and stabilise. Bulk testwork has been planned to provide a more representative assessment of the material types across the site.

The tests also confirmed that XRT sorting can identify and separate multiple target metals simultaneously from the same material stream in a single pass, covering tungsten, tin, and copper concurrently.

Brandberg West Project Development and Funding Agreement

Located on Exclusive Licence 5445 in Namibia, the Brandberg West Mine has historically been associated with tin, tungsten, and copper mineralisation. The current assessment programme is being carried out under a staged earn-in agreement with BWCAM Limited, an affiliate of ACAM LP, which may invest up to USD51 million to fund exploration and development of the Brandberg West polymetallic prospecting licence in return for up to a 49% ownership interest.

The current phase covers the evaluation of all historical discard streams, including waste rock, plant discard, and tailings, as well as hard rock material within the existing open pit. These results support the inclusion of discard areas in the current phase of the agreement, with the surface availability of this material a potential factor in accelerating the production timeline.

The testwork forms part of a multi-phased assessment programme that also includes an exploration drilling programme. This initial phase is classified as a sighter test, defined in the release as an early-stage preliminary test conducted on a small number of samples to assess whether a processing method is viable for a given material.

Outlook

These results mark the first phase of a broader, multi-stage assessment programme at Brandberg West. Next steps include bulk testwork to improve the representativeness of results across the range of material types on site, alongside a continuing exploration drilling programme. Further results are expected as the earn-in programme with BWCAM advances.

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