Golden Predator Announces Up to 96.8% Gold Recovery from Sulfide Concentrates Using Cyanide-Free Solution at Yukon Test Plant...
February 27 2020 - 8:00AM
Golden Predator Mining Corp. (TSX.V:GPY,
OTCQX:NTGSF) (the “
Company “or
“
Golden Predator”) reports continuing success in
field testing of EnviroLeach Technologies Inc.’s (“EnviroLeach”)
(CSE: ETI) (OTCQB: EVLLF) (7N2: FSE) non-cyanide
environmentally-friendly solution in Golden Predator’s Secondary
Recovery Unit (SRU) at its Yukon test processing plant
(“Plant”). Eleven test batches totaling approximately 2
tonnes of the previously announced 5 tonne test sample resulted in
93.17% recovery of contained gold yielding 132.23 ounces of gold
doré. Recoveries improved as the tests advanced with the final five
test batches yielding 96.8% recovery of gold. These highly
gratifying results confirm that processing and recovering
environmentally friendly gold from high grade sulfide concentrate
can be achieved with greater efficiency than cyanide, with far less
environmental risk and far fewer regulatory requirements.
Janet Lee-Sheriff said: “The test processing
plant operation and the SRU are examples of Golden Predator’s
commitment to innovation aligned to environmental and social
responsibility (ESG). The results clearly show that our
cyanide-free alternative represents a commercial opportunity for
many projects and jurisdictions. When we received the successful
results, we altered our course of work at the plant to focus
greater time and energy on this new technology. We are now
assessing some potential commercial applications for this
innovative development and we expect to provide more information on
these opportunities in the near future.”
ResultsA total of 2.034 tonnes,
of the planned 5 tonne test sample of sulfide concentrate were
processed in the Company’s SRU during 2019 using EnviroLeach’s
water-based gold recovery solution, yielding 4.113 kg of 0.8994
gold and 0.0802 silver. The cumulative testing resulted in a total
calculated recovery of 93.17% of the gold contained in the
concentrate. The concentrate averaged 2,022 g/t gold. These
results are from the testing of the concentrate sample program
previously announced on November 12, 2019.
The cumulative total of 11 separate tests under
varying conditions includes the previously reported 121 kg which
yielded 255 g of gold (GPY NR November 12, 2019). Each of the
individual tests had varied test conditions such as the pH of both
gold dissolution and electrowinning solutions, duration of
dissolution, duration of electrowinning, and trace metal content of
solutions. These tests progressed with the final five tests
showing an average recovery of 96.8% of the contained gold.
Progressive studies show increasing recoveries reflect ongoing
optimization of not only the processing circuit but also the
operating parameters of the SRU and its chemistry. These
design and operational developments are being incorporated into
improvements of the circuit for resumption of testing in 2020.
BackgroundGolden Predator
operates the processing plant to better understand the metallurgy
of the varying types of mineralized rock at 3 Aces and to
establish better and environmentally friendly ways to process the
mineralized rock. As part of its processing plant, Golden
Predator developed a mobile batch recovery unit (“Secondary
Recovery Unit” or “SRU™”) for the recovery of gold from its sulfide
concentrate. Golden Predator is utilizing EnviroLeach’s proprietary
environmentally friendly cyanide-free solution in the SRU™.
The Plant has now demonstrated the ability to recover both
coarse-grained gold from a closed system gravity circuit and to
extract gold from a sulfide concentrate in an environmentally
conscious and efficient manner.
Plant UpdateThe plant continued
to operate as designed throughout 2019. Unplanned disruptions to
supply of coarse material due to the spring thaw and an
interruption of the contract crushing service for approximately six
weeks contributed to a lower processing volume than
anticipated. Shortfalls in anticipated gold recovery
also occurred due to dilution of mineralized material and grade
from internal modeling. Minor amounts of gold in the fractured wall
rock is erratically distributed such that it skews modelling and
results in over-estimation of the mineral content of the
rock.
The test processing has established that the
quartz vein material contains sufficient gold to merit processing
while the wall rock material remains uneconomic. Going forward,
this provides important information about the 3 Aces project and
future exploration modelling. Future bulk sampling will
concentrate on ore sorting with only the white gold containing
quartz material being modelled and shipped for bulk sample
processing. Results of work to date indicate that this data
should increase not only the grade of the processed material but
also provide greater certainty as to mineral content and ultimate
recovery. During the second half of 2019, the Company acquired and
installed its own crushing plant at a cost of $25,000.00,
consisting of a mobile 22” by 36” jaw crusher and generator
set.
The addition of the SRU and batch testing of
cyanide-free alternative solutions increasingly occupied a greater
percentage of staff and management time and focus. The Company
anticipates resumption of bulk sample material processing during
the second quarter of 2020 in addition to the SRU test resumption
and is pursuing commercial opportunities from the SRU test
developments.
About the EnviroLeach Process
The EnviroLeach process delivers numerous economic and
environmental benefits over current extractive technologies. The
solution can effectively dissolve gold into aqueous solution with
similar leach kinetics and economics to that of cyanide but is
sustainable, safe and environmentally friendly. This water-based
process has a broad applicability spectrum and is effective on most
gold ores and concentrates. It can potentially unlock the value of
many deposits located in environmentally sensitive areas that
cannot be developed using current extraction methods.
About the Golden Predator
Process Golden Predator’s test processing
plant, the first of its kind in Yukon, Canada, commenced operations
in 2016 providing increased metallurgical and geological
understanding of its 3 Aces Project. The Plant is a relatively
simple gravity circuit utilizing a closed-circuit water system with
no added chemicals due to the free-milling nature of 3 Aces’
gold. The 50 tonnes per day closed circuit plant recovers
gold from #1 concentrates with doré bars sent to a commercial
refinery for final processing. Golden Predator is currently testing
EnviroLeach’s patent pending environmentally-friendly cyanide-free
solution in its SRU for the extraction of gold from its #2
concentrates. Total gold recovery from the gravity circuit is
over 85% of contained gold.
The 3 Aces Project is an orogenic gold project
in southeast Yukon which has provided the testing material for the
processing plant. To date, Golden Predator has focused exploration
on a broad gold-in-soil anomaly, where numerous orogenic
gold-bearing quartz veins have been discovered. Golden
Predator made an early decision to conduct a bulk sample at the 3
Aces Project when it realized much of the gold contained in its
veins is high grade (commonly over 30 g/t gold) and nuggety. The
best way to determine the true gold value and distribution of gold
within a nuggety gold system is to conduct large scale bulk
sampling, which also allows Golden Predator the opportunity to
conduct bulk metallurgical and processing tests in the
Yukon.
QA/QC Statement The initial
laboratory, pilot scale and production scale testing were
successfully conducted at EnviroLeach’s facility in Surrey, British
Columbia prior to the on-site testing at Golden Predator’s Plant.
All tests were conducted under the supervision of EnviroLeach
and/or Golden Predator personnel.
The technical content of this news release has
been reviewed and approved by Jeff Cary, CPG, a Qualified Person as
defined by National Instrument 43-101 and an employee of the
Company.
Golden Predator Mining
Corp.Golden Predator is advancing the past-producing
Brewery Creek Mine towards a timely resumption of mining
activities, under its Quartz Mining and Water Licenses, in Canada’s
Yukon. With established resources grading over 1.0 g/t Gold and a
feasibility level study currently underway by Kappes Cassiday
considering the economics of a restart of heap leach operations at
the Brewery Creek Mine, 2020 proves to be a pivotal year for the
Company.
Drilling continues to expand the open-ended
resources and untested targets across the 180 km2 brownfield
property located 55 km by road from Dawson City, Yukon.
Separately, the Yukon-based Company-owned gravity processing plant
located in southeast Yukon has demonstrated gold recoveries of over
85% from high grade 3 Aces material using a combination of a
gravity and water process and a mobile batch cyanide-free process.
This ‘green’ gold provides the content for the mintage of .9999
gold coins from the Yukon Mint™, a wholly owned subsidiary of
Golden Predator.
For additional information: Janet Lee-Sheriff Chief
Executive Officer (604) 260-5029
info@goldenpredator.com www.goldenpredator.com
Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation
Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX
Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this release. No stock exchange, securities commission
or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the
information contained herein. This press release contains
forward-looking information that involve various risks and
uncertainties regarding future events. Such forward-looking
information can include without limitation statements express or
implied regarding completion of the transactions described herein,
the upcoming season at 3 Aces project, and projected grades
and gold and silver recoveries from the 2018 and proposed 2019 bulk
sample program, Actual results and future events could differ
materially from those anticipated in such information. These and
all subsequent written and oral forward-looking information are
based on estimates and opinions of management on the dates they are
made and are expressly qualified in their entirety by this notice.
Except as required by law, the Company assumes no obligation to
update forward-looking information should circumstances or
management's estimates or opinions change.
Golden Predator Mining (TSXV:GPY)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jun 2024 to Jul 2024
Golden Predator Mining (TSXV:GPY)
Historical Stock Chart
From Jul 2023 to Jul 2024