Accent Resources Confirms Dry Flowsheet Produces 66–68% Fe Magnetite Concentrate
Key Takeaways
- Independent testwork by LONGI Magnet Co. confirmed that a dry magnetic separation flowsheet can produce concentrates grading 66.3% to 68.0% Fe from Accent Resources' 100%-owned Magnetite Range Project, 250km south-east of Geraldton in WA's Mid-West.
- Three primary high-grade samples achieved total iron recovery of 85.2% to 91.2% and magnetic iron recovery of 97.0% to 98.2%, with even the purposely selected low-grade sample returning a 66.3% Fe concentrate.
- An optional single-stage wet polishing step using LONGI's LJC unit lifted concentrate grades to 69.7%–70.3% Fe — a range considered suitable for Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) feed specifications — though Accent's primary focus remains the fully dry route.
- The LONGI results now provide technical support for including a dry processing route in PFS trade-off studies, with the PFS having commenced on 21 May 2025 and next steps including pilot-scale confirmation and engineering studies.
- The project hosts a JORC 2012 Mineral Resource of 523.3Mt grading 31.3% Fe, providing a substantial resource base underpinning the ongoing feasibility work.
Dry flowsheet confirmed: LONGI testwork delivers 66–68% Fe magnetite concentrates
Independent testwork by LONGI Magnet Co., Ltd. has confirmed that a dry magnetic separation flowsheet can produce high-grade magnetite concentrates at bench scale from the Magnetite Range Project. The results mark an interim milestone for Accent Resources NL (ASX: ACS) as the company advances its Pre-Feasibility Study (PFS) for the 100% owned project located approximately 250km south-east of Geraldton in WA’s Mid-West region, an established magnetite production area.
Four representative samples from the Julia and Robb deposits returned final concentrates grading 66.3% to 68.0% Fe after dry grinding to a P85 of approximately 75 microns, with overall magnetic iron (mFe) recovery reaching 98.21% across the four tests. The project hosts a JORC 2012 Mineral Resource of 523.3Mt grading 31.3% Fe.
This testwork builds on prior work by CSU (referenced in the ASX announcement dated 10 August 2026) and is reported as an interim progress update feeding into the ongoing PFS. Results are preliminary bench-scale outcomes and do not constitute a final process design or production forecast.
The LONGI program builds on prior dry separation results from CSU testwork at Magnetite Range, which established the initial technical basis for pursuing a water-efficient processing route ahead of the current PFS phase.
When big ASX news breaks, our subscribers know first
What the LONGI testwork shows — and why it matters for the PFS
Breaking down the four sample results
LONGI tested four representative composites (J-UBIF-01, J-LBIF-02, R-LBIF-12 and R-LBIF-14) using a standard configuration dual drum dry magnetic separator, with feed material dry ground to P85 of approximately 75 microns. The table below summarises the combined two-stage dry magnetic separation results for each sample.
| Sample | Mass Yield (%) | Final Concentrate TFe (%) | Overall TFe Recovery (%) | Overall mFe Recovery (%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| J-UBIF-01 | 44.1 | 67.1 | 85.2 | 97.0 |
| J-LBIF-02 | 49.3 | 66.7 | 91.2 | 98.2 |
| R-LBIF-12 | 42.7 | 68.0 | 87.2 | 98.2 |
| R-LBIF-14* | 21.1 | 66.3 | 56.2 | 88.3 |
TFe = total iron; mFe = magnetic iron. *R-LBIF-14 was a purpose-selected low-grade sample to determine the effects of this material type on process performance.
The three primary high-grade samples (J-UBIF-01, J-LBIF-02 and R-LBIF-12) returned concentrates grading 66.7% to 68.0% Fe at 85.2% to 91.2% total iron recovery and 97.0% to 98.2% magnetic iron recovery. The fourth sample, R-LBIF-14, was purposely selected as a low-grade representative to test how non-primary process feed material behaves in a dry circuit. It still produced a 66.3% Fe concentrate, albeit at lower mass yield and recovery (56.2% TFe recovery, 88.3% mFe recovery), consistent with its geo-type as non-primary process feed.
The wet polishing option — a potential product quality upside
LONGI also completed a wet magnetic separation cleaning test using its LJC unit on all four dry concentrates. In a single-stage LJC test, the samples produced concentrates grading 69.7% to 70.3% Fe, a grade range considered suitable for Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) feed specifications.
Key outcomes from the wet cleaning test:
- Four dry concentrates tested through single-stage LJC
- Final concentrate grades of 69.7% to 70.3% Fe
- Final total iron recovery ranging 59.2% to 88.6% (versus ROM)
Importantly, the announcement makes clear that Accent’s primary focus remains the fully dry flowsheet as the water-efficient option. The wet finishing stage represents a potential product upgrade pathway under ongoing evaluation, not a replacement for the dry route. Accent stated it will continue to assess whether a wet finishing stage is justified by product specification, recovery, water demand, and project economics.
Why dry processing? The investor case for a water-efficient flowsheet
Dry magnetic separation is a process that upgrades magnetite ore using magnetic fields without requiring process water during the separation stages. That distinction matters considerably for a project in WA’s Mid-West region, where water access constraints are well documented.
A technically credible dry flowsheet offers a potential set of advantages that Accent is now able to evaluate in the PFS trade-off studies:
- Reduced capital cost potential (potential to avoid or reduce reliance on wet concentration and tailings storage facilities)
- Lower process water demand during the tested separation stages
- Gangue rejection (removal of waste minerals) without water during tested separation stages
- High concentrate grades consistent with premium magnetite product specifications
The concentrates grading 66%+ Fe produced by the dry flowsheet meet typical Blast Furnace Pellet (BFP) feed specifications, though the announcement notes that pelletisation performance and marketing requirements have not yet been assessed. Realising any of the potential advantages above remains subject to confirmation through further metallurgical, engineering, environmental, and economic assessment.
Dr David Sun, Managing Director and CEO, Accent Resources NL
“The LONGI results are an encouraging technical milestone for Magnetite Range. The ability to produce 66% to 68% Fe concentrates in the laboratory using a dry processing route gives the Company a credible water efficient option to evaluate in the PFS. Our next priority is to validate and optimise the flowsheet across representative material and at a scale suitable for engineering design.”
The next major ASX story will hit our subscribers first
Next steps — from bench scale to PFS trade-off studies
The LONGI results now provide technical support for including a dry processing route in PFS trade-off studies. The PFS is ongoing, following commencement announced 21 May 2025.
Planned next-stage work drawn from the announcement includes:
- Confirmation and optimisation testwork on representative composites
- Evaluation of coarse dry rejection and fine dry cleaning stages
- Assessment of wet and dry processing alternatives
- Engineering studies to determine the preferred process route
Several parameters still require further evaluation before the flowsheet is engineering-ready, including energy consumption, equipment sizing, material handling, dust control, concentrate moisture, and operating costs. The company has indicated these assessments would include evaluation at an appropriate scale, such as pilot scale. The LONGI bench-scale results establish the technical foundation for that next phase of work.
Don’t Miss the Next ASX Iron Ore Breakthrough
Get FREE breaking ASX mining news delivered to your inbox within minutes of release, complete with in-depth analysis already done for you. Over 30,000 investors trust Big News Blast to stay ahead of market-moving announcements across iron ore, gold, copper, lithium and more. Click the “Free Alerts” button to start receiving alerts the moment news breaks.