Western Exploration Reports Positive Gravel Creek Metallurgical Results, Including Gold Recovery of 94.8% to Combined Gravity and Flotation Concentrate
Western Exploration Inc. (TSXV: WEX; OTCQX: WEXPF) has announced positive metallurgical test results from the Gravel Creek deposit's Jarbidge rhyolite hanging wall zone. Key highlights include:
1. Locked-cycle flotation tests showed 94.8% gold and 89.8% silver recoveries in a combined gravity and flotation concentrate.
2. The combined concentrate was 10.9% of feed weight, averaging 57.1 g/t Au and 1,725 g/t Ag.
3. Gravity concentration before rougher flotation recovered 22.4% of gold and 4.4% of silver in 0.16% of total feed weight, with grades of 920 g/t Au and 5,750 g/t Ag.
4. The flotation concentrate averaged 29.1% sulphide sulphur.
CEO Darcy Marud stated that these results demonstrate a potential path to economic recovery for precious metals at Gravel Creek.
Western Exploration Inc. (TSXV: WEX; OTCQX: WEXPF) ha annunciato risultati positivi dai test metallurgici della zona di parete superiore in riolite Jarbidge del deposito Gravel Creek. I punti salienti includono:
1. I test di flottazione in ciclo chiuso hanno mostrato recuperi del 94,8% dell'oro e dell'89,8% dell'argento in un concentrato combinato di gravità e flottazione.
2. Il concentrato combinato costituiva il 10,9% del peso del materiale in ingresso, con una media di 57,1 g/t di Au e 1.725 g/t di Ag.
3. La concentrazione per gravità prima della flottazione grossolana ha recuperato 22,4% dell'oro e 4,4% dell'argento in 0,16% del peso totale del materiale in ingresso, con gradi di 920 g/t di Au e 5.750 g/t di Ag.
4. Il concentrato di flottazione ha avuto una media del 29,1% di zolfo solfuro.
Il CEO Darcy Marud ha dichiarato che questi risultati dimostrano un potenziale percorso per il recupero economico dei metalli preziosi a Gravel Creek.
Western Exploration Inc. (TSXV: WEX; OTCQX: WEXPF) ha anunciado resultados positivos de las pruebas metalúrgicas de la zona de pared colgante de riolita Jarbidge en el depósito Gravel Creek. Los puntos destacados incluyen:
1. Las pruebas de flotación en ciclo cerrado mostraron recuperaciones de 94.8% de oro y 89.8% de plata en un concentrado combinado de gravedad y flotación.
2. El concentrado combinado representó el 10.9% del peso de la alimentación, con un promedio de 57.1 g/t de Au y 1,725 g/t de Ag.
3. La concentración por gravedad antes de la flotación previa recuperó 22.4% de oro y 4.4% de plata en 0.16% del peso total de la alimentación, con grados de 920 g/t de Au y 5,750 g/t de Ag.
4. El concentrado de flotación tuvo un promedio del 29.1% de azufre sulfurado.
El CEO Darcy Marud declaró que estos resultados demuestran un posible camino hacia la recuperación económica de metales preciosos en Gravel Creek.
Western Exploration Inc. (TSXV: WEX; OTCQX: WEXPF)는 Gravel Creek의 Jarbidge 로라이타 매달림 벽 구역에서 긍정적인 광물학적 테스트 결과를 발표했습니다. 주요 하이라이트는 다음과 같습니다:
1. 잠금 사이클 부유 시험에서 금 94.8% 및 은 89.8% 회수율을 보여주는 중력 및 부유 농축물이 생성되었습니다.
2. 결합된 농축물은 투입량의 10.9%를 차지하였으며 Au 57.1 g/t 및 Ag 1,725 g/t의 평균을 기록했습니다.
3. 거친 부유 전 중력 농축은 전체 투입량의 0.16%에서 금 22.4% 및 은 4.4% 회수되었으며, Au 920 g/t 및 Ag 5,750 g/t의 성적을 보였습니다.
4. 부유 농축물은 평균 29.1% 황화물 황을 포함했습니다.
CEO Darcy Marud는 이러한 결과가 Gravel Creek에서 귀금속의 경제적 회복을 위한 잠재적 경로를 보여준다고 밝혔습니다.
Western Exploration Inc. (TSXV: WEX; OTCQX: WEXPF) a annoncé des résultats positifs des tests métallurgiques de la zone murale suspendue en rhyolithe Jarbidge du gisement Gravel Creek. Les points clés comprennent :
1. Les tests de flottation en cycle fermé ont montré 94,8 % de récupération de l’or et 89,8 % de récupération de l’argent dans un concentré combiné de gravité et de flottation.
2. Le concentré combiné représentait 10,9 % du poids de l’alimentation, avec une moyenne de 57,1 g/t d’Au et 1 725 g/t d’Ag.
3. La concentration par gravité avant la flottation préliminaire a récupéré 22,4 % de l’or et 4,4 % de l’argent dans 0,16 % du poids total de l’alimentation, avec des teneurs de 920 g/t d’Au et 5 750 g/t d’Ag.
4. Le concentré de flottation avait une moyenne de 29,1 % de soufre sulfuré.
Le PDG Darcy Marud a déclaré que ces résultats démontrent une voie potentielle vers la récupération économique des métaux précieux à Gravel Creek.
Western Exploration Inc. (TSXV: WEX; OTCQX: WEXPF) hat positive metallurgische Testergebnisse aus der Jarbidge-Rhyolith-Deckenwandzone des Gravel Creek-Vorkommens bekannt gegeben. Die wichtigsten Highlights umfassen:
1. Verschlossene Zyklen-Flotationstests zeigten Rückgewinnungen von 94,8% Gold und 89,8% Silber in einem kombinierten Schwerkraft- und Flotationskonzentrat.
2. Das kombinierte Konzentrat betrug 10,9% des Futtergewichts und hatte einen Durchschnitt von 57,1 g/t Au und 1.725 g/t Ag.
3. Die Schwerkraftkonzentration vor der groben Flotation erzielte 22,4% Gold und 4,4% Silber aus 0,16% des Gesamtfuttergewichts, mit Gehalten von 920 g/t Au und 5.750 g/t Ag.
4. Das Flotationskonzentrat hatte einen Durchschnitt von 29,1% Sulfid-Schwefel.
CEO Darcy Marud erklärte, dass diese Ergebnisse einen potenziellen Weg zur wirtschaftlichen Rückgewinnung von Edelmetallen in Gravel Creek aufzeigen.
- High gold and silver recoveries: 94.8% for gold and 89.8% for silver in combined gravity and flotation concentrate
- Significant concentrate grades: 57.1 g/t Au and 1,725 g/t Ag in combined concentrate
- Efficient gravity concentration: 22.4% of gold recovered in just 0.16% of feed weight
- Potential for economic recovery of precious metals at Gravel Creek
- None.
Figure 1: Location of 2023 PQ Oriented core holes at Gravel Creek. (Graphic: Business Wire)
Highlights from the work include:
-
Locked-cycle flotation tests indicate recoveries of
94.8% for gold and89.8% for silver in a combined gravity and flotation concentrate. -
The combined gravity and flotation concentrate were
10.9% of the feed weight and averaged 57.1 g/t Au, 1,725 g/t Ag. -
The flotation concentrate averaged
29.1% sulphide sulphur. -
Gravity concentration before rougher flotation concentration (from the gravity tailings) recovered
22.4% of the Gold and4.4% of the silver in0.16% of the total feed weight with a gold grade of 920 g/t and a silver grade of 5,750 g/t.
Western Exploration CEO, Darcy Marud said, "Preliminary metallurgical test work on Gravel Creek hanging wall mineralization has returned very positive results for the recovery of gold and silver to concentrate. The recoveries are similar to past Gravel Creek metallurgical test work and demonstrate a potential path to economic recovery for precious metals."
2024 Flotation Metallurgy Sample Locations
Flotation test work was conducted on a gold and silver bearing diamond drill composite from core holes WG456 and WG457, drilled in 2023 in the
- Hole WG456, located 250 meters northeast of the Gravel Creek resource area, reported individual assays up to 34.9 g/t Au and 2800.0 g/t Ag as reported in a Company news release dated November 21, 2023.
- Hole WG457, located 140 meters northeast of the Gravel Creek resource area, reported individual assays up to 257.0 g/t Au and 1655.0 g/t Ag as reported in a Company news release dated January 8, 2024.
- The composite was comprised of sulphide mineralization collected from samples ranging in downhole depths of 316 meters to 731 meters in WG456 and WG457.
Flotation Program and Results
All test work was completed by McClelland Laboratories, Inc (“MLI”) of
Composite assays showed that it contained 6.14 g/t Au, 206 g/t Ag and
Initially, six rougher flotation tests were conducted at feed sizes ranging from
Flotation testing showed that the Gravel Creek mineralization responded very well to bulk sulphide flotation treatment. Gold and silver recoveries of as high as >
Table 1. - Flotation Concentration Test Results, Test F-5, Gravel Creek Composite 4991-001, |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Wt. |
Cum. Wt. |
Assay |
Au Distribution |
Ag Distribution |
S= Distribution |
|||||||||||||||||
Product |
% |
% |
Au g/t |
Ag g/t |
% S= |
% |
Cum. % |
% |
Cum. % |
% |
Cum. % |
|||||||||||
Ro. Conc. Stg. 1 (0-2 min) |
4.1 |
4.1 |
95.5 |
3,360 |
28.07 |
57.0 |
57.0 |
64.0 |
64.0 |
42.9 |
42.9 |
|||||||||||
Ro. Conc. Stg. 1 (2-5 min) |
2.3 |
6.4 |
54.1 |
1,480 |
28.96 |
18.1 |
75.1 |
15.8 |
79.8 |
24.8 |
67.7 |
|||||||||||
Ro. Conc. Stg. 2 |
2.3 |
8.7 |
47.4 |
1,010 |
22.17 |
15.8 |
90.9 |
10.8 |
90.6 |
19.0 |
86.7 |
|||||||||||
Ro. Conc. Stg. 3 |
0.9 |
9.6 |
22.2 |
546 |
12.73 |
2.9 |
93.8 |
2.3 |
92.9 |
4.3 |
91.0 |
|||||||||||
Ro. Conc. Stg. 4 |
0.6 |
10.2 |
12.4 |
306 |
7.42 |
1.1 |
94.9 |
0.9 |
93.8 |
1.7 |
92.7 |
|||||||||||
Ro. Conc. Stg. 5 |
0.4 |
10.6 |
7.0 |
206 |
3.81* |
0.4 |
95.3 |
0.4 |
94.2 |
0.6 |
93.3 |
|||||||||||
Ro. Tail |
89.4 |
100.0 |
0.36 |
14 |
0.20 |
4.7 |
100.0 |
5.8 |
100.0 |
6.7 |
100.0 |
|||||||||||
Composite |
100.0 |
|
6.87 |
215 |
2.68 |
100.0 |
|
100.0 |
|
100.0 |
|
|||||||||||
* Insufficient sample was available for sulphide assay. The average of the adjacent product grades was used. |
Preliminary cleaner flotation testing showed that it was possible to significantly increase concentrate grades by cleaning. Cleaner concentrate grades of as high as >70 g/t Au, >3,900 g/t Ag and
Regrinding the rougher concentrate for as much as 90 minutes resulted in production of a cleaner concentrate that was
Table 2. - Rougher/Cleaner Flotation Concentration Test Results, Gravel Creek Composite 4991-001, 4991 F-6 Rougher Concentrate, 90 min Regrind of Ro. Conc. |
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Wt. |
|
Cum. Wt. |
|
Assay |
|
Au Distribution |
|
Ag Distribution |
|
S= Distribution |
|||||||||||
Product |
% |
|
% |
|
Au g/t |
|
Ag g/t |
|
% S= |
|
% |
|
Cum. % |
|
% |
|
Cum. % |
|
% |
|
Cum. % |
|
Cl. Conc. |
3.2 |
|
3.2 |
|
72.4 |
|
3,920 |
|
41.07 |
|
35.9 |
|
35.9 |
|
59.6 |
|
59.6 |
|
49.2 |
|
49.2 |
|
Cl. Tail |
7.4 |
|
10.6 |
|
40.6 |
|
898 |
|
16.04 |
|
46.5 |
|
82.4 |
|
31.5 |
|
91.1 |
|
44.4 |
|
93.6 |
|
Ro. Tail |
89.4 |
|
100.0 |
|
1.27 |
|
21 |
|
0.19 |
|
17.6 |
|
100.0 |
|
8.9 |
|
100.0 |
|
6.4 |
|
100.0 |
|
Composite |
100.0 |
|
|
|
6.46 |
|
211 |
|
2.67 |
|
100.0 |
|
|
|
100.0 |
|
|
|
100.0 |
|
|
A gravity concentration test was conducted on tailings from one of the flotation tests to evaluate causes for variability in flotation tail grade. Results showed that most (
Follow up locked-cycle flotation test work was conducted at an
Table 3. – Gravity/Flotation Test, Gravel Creek Composite 4991-001, |
||||||||||||||||||||||
Wt. |
Cum. Wt. |
Assay |
Au Distribution |
Ag Distribution |
S= Distribution |
|||||||||||||||||
Product |
% |
% |
Au g/t |
Ag g/t |
% S= |
% |
Cum. % |
% |
Cum. % |
% |
Cum. % |
|||||||||||
Grav. Cl. Conc. |
0.16 |
0.16 |
920 |
5750 |
N/A* |
22.4 |
22.4 |
4.4 |
4.4 |
N/A |
N/A |
|||||||||||
Flotation Ro. Conc. |
10.74 |
10.90 |
44.3 |
1665 |
21.9 |
72.4 |
94.8 |
85.4 |
89.8 |
95.3 |
95.3 |
|||||||||||
Flotation Ro. Tail |
89.10 |
100.00 |
0.38 |
24 |
0.13 |
5.2 |
100.0 |
10.2 |
100.0 |
4.7 |
100.0 |
|||||||||||
Composite |
100.00 |
|
6.56 |
209 |
2.46 |
100.0 |
|
100.0 |
|
100.0 |
|
|||||||||||
*N/A denotes Not Available |
About the Aura Project
The 6,000-hectare Aura Project has established mineral resource estimates in three different deposits (Doby George, Gravel Creek and Wood Gulch), as reported in the "2021 Updated Resource Estimates and Technical Report for the Aura Gold-Silver Project,
In addition, the Aura Project has well established infrastructure including year-round accessibility by highway and county-maintained road and nearby access to water and electricity. Western Exploration has exploration, development, and mining rights on 930 hectares of privately owned land through a mineral lease agreement with a local landowner and may purchase those fee lands at any time for the development of Doby George.
Table 4. Mineral resource estimates for the Aura Project as reported in the 2021 Technical Report. |
||||||||||||||
MINERAL RESOURCE(1) |
||||||||||||||
|
Indicated |
Inferred |
||||||||||||
|
Tonnes |
Au
|
Au
|
Ag
|
Ag
|
AuEq
|
AuEq
|
Tonnes |
Au
|
Au
|
Ag
|
Ag
|
AuEq
|
AuEq
|
Doby George(2) |
12,922,000 |
0.98 |
407,000 |
- |
- |
0.98 |
407,000 |
4,999,000 |
0.73 |
118,000 |
- |
- |
0.73 |
118,000 |
Wood Gulch(3) |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
4,359,000 |
0.66 |
93,000 |
5.80 |
808,000 |
0.74 |
104,543 |
Gravel Creek(4) |
1,315,000 |
4.73 |
200,000 |
75.0 |
3,169,000 |
5.81 |
245,271 |
2,744,000 |
4.16 |
367,000 |
60.20 |
5,307,000 |
5.02 |
442,814 |
TOTAL |
14,237,000 |
1.33 |
607,000 |
75.0 |
3,169,000 |
1.43 |
652,271 |
12,102,000 |
1.48 |
578,000 |
15.74 |
6,115,000 |
1.71 |
665,357 |
Notes: | ||
(1) |
Au equivalent oz assumes |
|
(2) |
Pit constrained 0.2 g/t AuEq cutoff for oxide, 0.4 g/t Au cutoff for mixed and 1.4 g/t Au cutoff for unoxidized. |
|
(3) |
Pit constrained 0.2 g/t AuEq cutoff. |
|
(4) |
3.0 g/t Au cutoff. |
|
See "Cautionary Statements Regarding Estimates of Mineral Resources" below. |
About Western Exploration
Western Exploration is focused on advancing the
Western Exploration is comprised of an experienced team of precious metals experts that aim to lead the company to becoming
Additional information regarding Western Exploration and the Aura Project can be found on the Company's website and on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) under the Company's issuer profile.
Qualified Person Approval
The scientific and technical information in this news release has been reviewed and approved by Mark Hawksworth, General Manager of the Aura Project, and Jack McPartland of MLI, each of whom is a "qualified person" within the meaning of NI 43-101.
Quality Assurance / Quality Control
Exploration program design, Quality Assurance/Quality Control ("QA/QC") and the interpretation of results is performed by qualified persons employing a QA/QC program consistent with NI 43-101 and industry best practices. For Western Exploration legacy samples, standards and blanks and duplicates were generally included approximately every 20th sample for QA/QC purposes by the Company as well as the lab. Approximately
Metallurgical Test Work
Interval Preparation and Assay: A total of 28 drill interval samples, from the Gravel Creek deposit were received on January 18, 2024. Select samples from drill holes WG456 (ranging from 1,792.7' to 2,397') and WG457 (ranging from 1,036.5' to 2,319.2') were used for testing. The interval samples were previously crushed to a nominal 2mm and weighed 0.3 to 7.3 kg each. Select samples (19) were combined in entirety to produce Gravel Creek composite 4991-001.
The entire composite was stage crushed to just passing 1.7mm in size. The -1.7mm composite was thoroughly blended and split to obtain multiple 1.0 kg samples for testing and triplicate 0.25 kg samples for head assay.
The composite was assayed directly in triplicate, using conventional fire assay fusion procedures, to determine gold and silver content. A single cyanide shake analysis was conducted, with and without a “gold spike” leach solution (preg-rob test series).
Flotation Testing
A total of six rougher flotation tests were conducted on composite 4991-001, at feed sizes ranging from
Initially, a scouter rougher flotation test was conducted on a 1 kg sample at an
The same reagent suite was used for all rougher flotation tests. Flotation was conducted using a
Flotation was conducted in 5 stages with incremental additions of 0.005 kg/mt ore of PAX (potassium amyl xanthate) and 0.010 kg/mt AERO 208 (dithiophosphate) collectors at each stage. Respective total addition of each reagent was 0.025 and 0.050 kg/mt ore. AEROFROTH 65 was used as frother. The pulp was floated at natural pH. For all rougher flotation tests, except for the kinetic test, the 5 stages of concentrate were combined into a rougher concentrate. Those rougher concentrates were dried, weighed and assayed directly to determine gold, silver and sulphide sulphur content.
The five staged rougher concentrate samples generated from the kinetic flotation test (F-5) were each dried, weighed and assayed separately for the same constituents.
In the case of the bulk (16 kg) rougher flotation test (F-6), rougher flotation was conducted in two 8 kg lots, using a larger flotation machine. The rougher concentrates produced from those two tests were combined, dried, weighed and split to obtain three 0.5 kg samples for cleaner flotation testing and 0.2 kg for assay. The combined rougher concentrate was assayed directly to determine gold, silver and sulphide sulphur content. The rougher tails from each 8 kg lot were dried, weighed and assayed separately, in triplicate to determine gold silver and sulphide sulphur content (one sulphide sulphur assay per 8 kg lot). Results presented for rougher flotation test F-6 are based on the average of assay results from the two 8 kg lots (designated F-6A and F-6B).
Cleaner flotation tests (3) were conducted on the rougher concentrate generated from the bulk flotation test (F-6). The tests were conducted on 0.5 kg splits of rougher concentrate after regrinds of 1 minute (polish grind), 45 minutes and 90 minutes. Cleaner flotation was conducted without additional collector or promoter. Frother was added as required. The resulting cleaner concentrates and cleaner tails were dried, weighed and assayed to determine gold, silver and sulphide sulphur content.
For additional information on the Aura Project, please see the Technical Report, which has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of NI 43-101, a copy of which is available on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) under Western Exploration's issuer profile and on Western Exploration's corporate website (www.westernexploration.com).
Cautionary Statements Regarding Estimates of Mineral Resources
This news release uses the terms measured mineral resources, indicated mineral resources, and inferred mineral resources as a relative measure of the level of confidence in the resource estimate. Readers are cautioned that mineral resources are not mineral reserves and that the economic viability of mineral resources that are not mineral reserves has not been demonstrated. The mineral resource estimate disclosed in this news release may be materially affected by geology, environmental, permitting, legal, title, socio-political, marketing, or other relevant issues. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of the inferred mineral resources will ever be upgraded to the category of indicated mineral resource or measured mineral resource. The mineral resource estimate is classified in accordance with the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and Petroleum's "CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves" (CIM) incorporated by reference into NI 43-101. Under NI 43-101, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies or economic studies except for preliminary economic assessments. Readers are cautioned not to assume that further work on the stated resources will lead to mineral reserves that can be mined economically.
Inferred mineral resources have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and as to whether they can be mined legally or economically. On October 31, 2018, the
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This news release may contain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the applicable Canadian and
For additional information with respect to these and other factors and assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements and forward-looking information made in this news release concerning Western Exploration, please refer to the public disclosure record of Western Exploration, including the management information circular dated November 12, 2021 and the Company's most recent annual and interim financial statements and related management's discussion and analysis, which are available on SEDAR+ (www.sedarplus.ca) under Western Exploration's issuer profile. The forward-looking statements set forth herein concerning Western Exploration reflect management's expectations as at the date of this news release and are subject to change after such date. Western Exploration disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.
View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240920466506/en/
Darcy Marud
Chief Executive Officer
Telephone: (775) 329-8119
Email: dmarud@westernexploration.com
Nichole Cowles
Investor Relations
Telephone: (775) 240-4172
Email: nicholecowles@westernexploration.com
Source: Western Exploration Inc.
FAQ
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