New Tool In Hunt For Gold At Fosterville
Kirkland Lake Gold Ltd (TSX:KL, NYSE:KL, ASX:KLA) has signed a deal to install Chrysos PhotonAssay technology for its Fosterville Mine in Australia.
Delivering faster, more accurate gold analysis, Chrysos PhotonAssay is a quantitative, chemistry-free replacement for fire assay on-site and in the laboratory. Hitting samples with high-energy X-rays, the technology causes excitation of atomic nuclei allowing enhanced analysis of gold, silver, and complementary elements in as little as two minutes.
Importantly, Chrysos PhotonAssay allows large samples of up to 500g to be measured and provides a true bulk reading independent of the chemical or physical form of the sample. The process is completely non-destructive, and all samples can be retained for further testing or analysis if required.
“We believe the PhotonAssay method has potential benefits for our business that include simple sample preparation, fast turnaround times for high-quality results, and improved outcomes related to health, environment, and the community,” Wess Edgar, Chief Geologist for Kirkland Lake Gold in Australia, said.
The sample charge used in the PhotonAssay method is approximately 10-20 times larger than existing fire assay, and thus has potential for a more representative assay result of the entire crushed sample, which is considered important for samples containing high gold grades and/or visible-gold, as are often found at Fosterville.”
Originally developed at Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO, PhotonAssay’s latest market success has drawn a positive response from CSIRO’s Chief Executive, Dr Larry Marshall.
“It’s very rewarding to have a global leader like Kirkland Lake embrace this new Aussie technology, which sees our research continuing to improve the efficiency and environmental sustainability of the industry around the world,” Dr Marshall said.
Kirkland Lake Gold is a growing gold producer operating in Canada and Australia and has three high-quality operations, including the Fosterville Mine located in the Australian State of Victoria, and the Macassa and Detour Lake Mines, located in Northern Ontario, Canada. Operating since 2005, and with a 2019 production of 619,316 oz, the high-grade, low-cost Fosterville underground mine near Bendigo, is the largest gold producer in Victoria.
“Our PhotonAssay installations provide single-touch operation and improved safety outcomes, whilst also reducing labour requirements and the potential for human error. The technology’s fast turnaround on high sample volumes provides customers with time-critical operational data and drives optimisation through their entire value chain,” Kirkland Lake Gold CEO, Dirk Treasure, said. Delivery of the PhotonAssay unit for Fosterville has already occurred, with the installation to be fully operational by early October. On Site Laboratory Services in Bendigo will staff and operate the unit on behalf of Kirkland Lake Gold.
