Metallurgical Test Work Confirms Leachable Gold
Australian gold and nickel company, Rox Resources Limited (ASX: RXL) has announced that preliminary metallurgical test work has delivered high gold recoveries from the Youanmi Gold Project (OYG JV) in Western Australia.
The Youanmi Project is host to several styles of mineralisation and to ensure adequate representation from the different mineralisation styles 81 samples were selected for metallurgical test work from 32 RC holes drilled by Rox across the Project area. Intervals were selected to cover a range of gold grades, mineralisation styles and degree of weathering/oxidation.
Samples were analysed by the LeachWELL Accelerated Cyanide Leach technique to determine the cyanide extractable gold via this industry- standard method and provide an indication of the potential recoveries in standard gold processing circuits (i.e. CIL)
Managing Director Alex Passmore, said the results from the oxide, transitional and fresh zones at Grace are exceptionally encouraging with gold recoveries averaging 97%, 94% and 95% respectively.
He said these results indicate that gold mineralisation encountered in recent drilling at the Youanmi Project in general, and especially at Grace, is amenable to conventional cyanide extraction methods.
“We are very pleased with these results, which are in line with our expectations,” Mr Passmore said.
“The main lode ore body at Youanmi that was mined historically was renowned as being refractory at depth.
“This first-pass metallurgical test work demonstrates that different primary mineralisation styles within the Youanmi project area such as the granite-hosted gold at Grace are clearly non-refractory, delivering excellent recoveries with conventional methods.”
Mr Passmore said this first-pass metallurgical test work demonstrates that the different styles of mineralisation at Youanmi have a range of gold recoveries. Importantly, the focus areas of recent exploration, most notably the Grace discovery, yield excellent gold recoveries with conventional methods. These outcomes will feed into our ongoing exploration approach and broader understanding of the Youanmi Project area.
He added that in conjunction with the promising exploration results that have been delivered within the Project area over the last 12 months and the new styles of mineralisation identified, the results serve to reshape perspectives on Youanmi to a highly prospective area with non-refractory mineralisation outside the historic mine area. Metallurgical performance appears strongly related to the style and setting of gold mineralisation. Further metallurgical test-work is ongoing, meanwhile Rox is continuing to drill the high Grace prospect with two RC drill rigs on site.
