- Total gold recovery of over 93% from a composite comprised
of core from 8 drill holes representing the Dolphin/Cleary resource
area.
- The flowsheet consists of gravity – flotation -
concentrate cleaning - Albion Process™ oxidation - CIL
(carbon-in-leach).
- A sulfide concentrate representing approximately 3% of the
process plant feed has been treated using standard Albion™
Process testing procedures appropriate for the current stage of the
Golden Summit Project development, resulting in a downstream CIL
stage extraction of over 97%.
- The exceptional CIL stage extraction of gold has been
achieved with less than 75% sulfur oxidation.
- Further optimization of this flowsheet and testing of
other oxidation processes are ongoing.
VANCOUVER, BC, Feb. 20,
2025 /CNW/ - Freegold Ventures Limited (TSX: FVL)
(OCTQX: FGOVF) ("Freegold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce
additional results based on the ongoing metallurgical test work on
drill hole composites from the 2020 – 2022 drill programs. The
objectives of the recently completed testwork were:
- Advancement of understanding of gold deportment and recovery
methods from previously released metallurgical test work
results
- Optimization of gold recovery and flowsheet make-up
considering the minimization of both future capital and operating
cost intensity with the benefit of significant additional and
overall gold recovery
Eight drill core composites, representing different locations
and grades within the Dolphin and Cleary areas, were created using
continuous drill intervals chosen to reflect potential mill feed.
(Refer to the map below for hole locations.) The selections of
drill holes and intervals included the three primary gold-hosting
lithologies. The results indicate that a gold recovery rate of 93%
can be achieved using standard and commercially employed mineral
processing operations. The composites were prepared from laboratory
assay rejects of fresh rock intervals located well below the
existing oxide cap at Golden Summit. Eight drill hole composites
were utilized, comprising 1,192 meters of drill intercepts that
represent 587 continuous mineralized intervals with a total
material weight of over 5,100 kilograms.
Composite DDH Make Up
|
GS2201
|
GS2203
|
GS2206
|
GS2207
|
|
GS2208
|
GS2209
|
GS2168
|
GS2167
|
Test Calc Grade
|
|
gold recovery %
|
|
Au g/t
|
Gravity
|
Flotation
|
Post Oxidation Stage
CIL
|
Total
|
|
|
|
|
|
1.15
|
40 %
|
55 %
|
97 %
|
>93%
|
Summary of Gold Recovery
Since 2020, drilling activities at the Golden Summit project
have significantly bolstered its potential, reinforcing the
project's viability through positive metallurgical outcomes and a
marked increase in overall resources. The current pit-constrained
resource includes both oxide and primary resources, with the oxide
component located within the upper 70 meters. Previous column tests
on the oxide material indicate that heap leach gold recoveries can
reach 85% within two weeks. Ongoing optimization efforts are
focused on delineating the most effective flow sheet for
the sulphide component before initiating a pre-feasibility
study.
The strategic plan for 2025 outlines extensive drilling
initiatives aimed at upgrading resources from the inferred category
to the indicated category, which is crucial for completing the
planned pre-feasibility study. The September
2024 Primary Resource, using a 0.5 g/t cut-off, is
346,304,000 tonnes at 1.08 g/t Au (12,050,000 contained ounces) in
the indicated mineral resource category and 308,311,000 tonnes at
1.04 g/t Au (10,306,000 contained ounces) in the inferred mineral
resource category.
In 2024, 41 holes, totaling 25,708m, were drilled. Assay results from twelve
drill holes related to the 2024 program are pending. Results from
the 2024 program will be incorporated into an updated mineral
resource estimate expected to be released later in 2025.
Ongoing Metallurgical Work: The primary areas of focus in the
next phase of metallurgical test work are in progress and
include:
- Comminution studies using half PQ core
- Flotation concentrate oxidation pre-treatment
utilizing BIOX® and POX prior to CIL
Link to Map Showing Location of Metallurgical Composite
Holes and 2024 Drilling
https://freegoldventures.com/site/assets/files/6287/metdrillingplanmap_february2025.pdf
The Qualified Person for this release is Alvin Jackson, P.Geo., Vice President of
Exploration and Development for Freegold, who has approved the
scientific and technical disclosure in this news release.
About Freegold Ventures Limited
Freegold is a TSX-listed company focused on exploration in
Alaska. It holds the Golden Summit
Gold Project near Fairbanks and
the Shorty Creek Copper-Gold Project near Livengood through
leases.
Some statements in this news release contain forward-looking
information, including, without limitation, statements as to
planned expenditures and exploration programs, potential
mineralization and resources, exploration results, the completion
of an updated NI 43-101 technical report, and any other future
plans. These statements address future events and conditions and,
as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other
factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or
achievements to be materially different from any future results,
performance, or achievements expressed or implied by the
statements. Such factors include, without limitation, the
completion of planned expenditures, the ability to complete
exploration programs on schedule, and the success of exploration
programs. See Freegold's Annual Information Form for the year ended
December 31st, 2023, filed under
Freegold's profile at www.sedar.com, for a detailed discussion of
the risk factors associated with Freegold's operations. On
January 30, 2020, the World Health
Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a global health
emergency. Reactions to the spread of COVID-19 continue to lead to,
among other things, significant restrictions on travel, business
closures, quarantines, and a general reduction in economic
activity. While these effects have been reduced in recent months,
the continuation and re-introduction of significant restrictions,
business disruptions, and related financial impact, and the
duration of any such disruptions cannot be reasonably estimated.
The risks to Freegold of such public health crises also include
employee health and safety risks and a slowdown or temporary
suspension of operations in geographic locations impacted by an
outbreak. Such public health crises, as well as global geopolitical
crises, can result in volatility and disruptions in the supply and
demand for various products and services, global supply chains, and
financial markets, as well as declining trade and market sentiment
and reduced mobility of people, all of which could affect interest
rates, credit ratings, credit risk, and inflation. As a result of
the COVID-19 outbreak, Freegold has implemented a COVID management
program and established a full-service Camp at Golden Summit to
attempt to mitigate risks to its employees, contractors, and
community. While the extent to which COVID-19 may impact Freegold
is uncertain, it is possible that COVID-19 may have a material
adverse effect on Freegold's business, results of
operations, and financial condition.
SOURCE Freegold Ventures Limited