Explor Completes Preliminary Metallurgical Testwork on Timmins Porcupine West Gold Property
May 31 2018 - 2:50PM
Explor Resources Inc. (“Explor” or “the
Corporation”) (TSX-V:EXS) (OTCQB:EXSFF) (FSE:E1H1)
(BE:E1H1) is pleased to announce the completion of Preliminary
Metallurgical Testing on the low grade near surface gold ore on the
Timmins Porcupine West Property (the “
TPW
Property” or the “
Property”).
Explor selected a representative sample from diamond drill holes in
the area of the potential open pit. A 45 kilogram composite sample
of mineralized diamond drill core was sent to SGS Minerals Services
in Lakefield, Ontario for metallurgical test-work.
The test program included sample preparation,
characterization, and flowsheet development testing. Ore
characterization included grindability, mineralogy by QEM-RMS
(QEMSCAN) rapid mineral scan, and chemical head grade analysis.
Flowsheet development testwork focused on gravity separation, as
well as flotation and cyanidation of gravity separation
tailing.
In summary, the composite sample was analyzed by
a screened metallics protocol and resulted in a head grade of 2.64
g/tonne gold. Testing indicated very little silver and negligible
arsenic in the composite sample. It was noted that most of the
sulphide sulfur was present as Pyrite (3.07%), Chalcopyrite
(approximately 0.12%) and Pyrrhotite (0.02%). The Bond Mill work
index was determined to be 13.1 Kwh/tonne. A gravity test was
conducted and it was determined that the 37.5% of the gold exists
as microscopic free gold, indicating that in any future mill design
a gravity circuit will be necessary at the front end of the
concentrator. Flotation testing indicated that up to 93% of the
gold can be recovered as a pyrite concentrate. Cyanide leach test
were conducted on the pyrite concentrate and greater than 94% gold
extraction was achieved over a 24 hour period. The gold is not
refractory and is not locked within the pyrite. A testing of the
tailings product (ABA and NAG testing) indicates that there is no
potential for acid generation in the flotation tailings material.
Chris Dupont, President and Chief Executive
Officer of Explor Resources Inc. commented: “We are very excited
about these preliminary Metallurgical results. The low Bond work
index combined with the high percentage of free gold and potential
greater than 93% gold recovery and with the fact that there is no
potential for acid generation in the tailings material make this
property very valuable from a development perspective.”
The highlights of the reported test-work
includes the following results:
- Gold analysis by screened metallics
protocol at +/-150 mesh (106 μm) yielded a head grade of 2.64 g/t
Au with >20% of the gold in the coarse fraction indicating
favorable recovery by gravity.
- Silver reported at less than the
AAS detection limit of +/-0.5 g/t while sulphide sulphur, total
carbon and arsenic were assayed at 1.48%, 0.7% and <0.001%,
respectively.
- Based on the semi-quantitative
QEM-RMS analysis, most of the sulphide sulphur was present as
pyrite (3.07%). Chalcopyrite was the second most abundant sulphide
mineral at ~0.12% and pyrrhotite was third at 0.02%.
- The Bond ball mill grindability
test results indicated that the ore fell in the low medium range of
hardness, at 13.1 kWh/tonne. The ore fell at the 36th
percentile compared to the SGS database.
- In a batch gravity separation test
completed, gravity gold recovery to a low mass concentrates (~0.04%
of the feed mass) yielded a gold recovery of 37.5% at a primary
grind size P80 of ~130 μm. These initial results suggest a
high probability of significant potential for the use of gravity
circuit at the front end of the mill. Additional gravity separation
testwork is recommended in any future studies.
- Rougher flotation tests on gravity
separation tailings indicated that gold recoveries in the ~93%
range (including the gold recovered by gravity separation) were
achievable in ~5% mass pull at a P80 of ~130 μm. There appeared to
be an improvement in gold recovery with finer grinding (to P80 = 59
μm).
- Additional testing will be required
to optimize the primary grind size for optimal rougher flotation
performance. Additional test work is recommend, examining the
cleaning characteristics of the rougher concentrate. It may be
possible to generate a cleaner flotation concentrate approaching 50
g/tonne Au, compared to the ~30 g/t generated preliminary
metallurgical in the preliminary rougher flotation testwork. Locked
cycle flotation testing is also recommended to establish a more
realistic understanding of potential gold recovery in
closed-circuit in a flotation plant.
- Cyanide leach tests examining the
impact of grind size on gold recovery from the gravity separation
tailings indicated gold extractions >94% (including gravity
separation gold recovery) at P80’s of 74 μm or finer. Although
the gold appears to be associated with pyrite and floats well with
pyrite, it is not refractory and locked in the pyrite. Gold
leaching appeared to be essentially complete within 24 hours.
- Further testing to optimize cyanide
leach parameters is recommended. This testing should address the
optimization of feed particle size, leach retention time, pulp
density, and cyanide dosage. This testing should encompass leaching
of both whole ore (gravity tailings) as well as float concentrates.
Subsequent work is recommended to evaluate the gold recovery
circuit (CIP or CIL) and establish preliminary design
criteria.
- Baseline environmental evaluation
(ABA and NAG testing) of a tailing representing a gravity +rougher
flotation flowsheet indicated there is no potential for acid
generation in flotation tailings material.
Chris Dupont, P.Eng is the qualified person
responsible for the information contained in this release.
Explor Resources Inc. is a publicly listed company
trading on the TSX Venture (EXS), on the OTCQB (EXSFF) and on the
Frankfurt and Berlin Stock Exchanges (E1H1).
This Press Release was prepared by Explor.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services
Provider (as that term is defined in the Policies of the TSX
Venture Exchange) has reviewed or accepts responsibility for the
adequacy or accuracy of this release.
About Explor Resources Inc.
Explor Resources Inc. is a Canadian-based
natural resources company with mineral holdings in Ontario, Québec,
Saskatchewan and New Brunswick. Explor is currently focused on
exploration in the Abitibi Greenstone Belt. The belt is found in
both provinces of Ontario and Québec with approximately 33% in
Ontario and 67% in Québec. The Belt has produced in excess of
180,000,000 ounces of gold and 450,000,000 tonnes of Cu-Zn ore over
the last 100 years. The Corporation was continued under the laws of
Alberta in 1986 and has had its main office in Québec since
2006.
For further information please contact:
Christian
Dupont, President |
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Tel:
888-997-4630 or 819-797-4630 |
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Fax:
819-797-1870 |
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Website:
www.explorresources.com |
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Email: info@explorresources.com |
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