Chalice Mining (ASX:CHN) said it achieved "significant" increases in metal recoveries from flotation and carbon-in-leach processes at the Gonneville platinum group element-nickel-copper-cobalt project in Western Australia and produced a potentially new iron byproduct during metallurgical testwork, according to a Tuesday Australian bourse filing.

The first four years of the mine plan are expected to have higher feed grade than the later years, which will drive higher recoveries for that initial period, the filing said. Testwork and optimizations on the oxide and transitional composites are ongoing.

The company is conducting geological modelling to better quantify the iron in the project, which will dictate the completion of the pre-feasibility study in the fourth quarter, per the filing.