AVL’s Innovation Myth!!!, page-2

1. the LOI on unbeneficiated ore is irrelevant. Many of the gangue minerals will lose mass on ignition. If the concentrate does not gain on ignition, it may suggest that is already oxidised, although significantly martitised material will still return a negative LOI (gain on ignition)

2. to make a clean con, it needs to be ground to liberate the silicates. When comparing the projects, the project with the greatest mass recovery and the lowest silica is the superior project. Silica is one of the worst contaminants to introduce into a salt-roast circuit.

3. if as you claim the AVL deposit has more oxide, it’s comminution (grinding) energy requirements will be lower for the oxide classes of ore. The problem with oxide is trying not to overgrind it and relatively low mass recovery to con. Oxide is perfectly ok to blend with primary ore, which means more vanadium is recoverable from the resource.