Fulcrum Metals plc has begun a characterisation programme, comprising 93 augur drill holes and phase three testing of non-cyanide leaching, at Teck Hughes gold tailings in Kirkland Lake, Ontario.
RECOVERY
Drilling will provide detailed data for minerology and a mineral resource estimate, while the characterisation programme will show the potential for at-surface reprocessing.
Initial photon assay results for the first seven holes returned up to 1.2g/t gold, with consistent gold values averaging 0.73g/t gold.
All samples will undergo analysis for silver, gallium and tellurium.
Phase three testing with Extrakt Processing Solutions LLC will also include its proprietary solid-liquid separation TNSTM technologies to provide detailed metallurgical data to process the tailings.
“This includes optimising and scaling up resource recovery, maximising yield and process efficiency, tailings dewatering and recovery of water and reagents,” said Fulcrum.
“These workstreams will run parallel and provide the basis for a phase four preliminary feasibility study-level economic assessment with Extrakt and delivering a 43-101 technical report.”
Chief executive officer Ryan Mee added: “These are important steps in demonstrating the quality and scale of this near-surface legacy resource, where initial results show high recovery rates and quick leach times for processing with the Extrakt technology.”
The work programmes will continue ahead of a construction decision.