Tocvan Ventures Corp. (CSE:TOC) said results of the bulk sample from its Pilar gold-silver project in Sonora, Mexico, have shown consistent gold and silver values alongside duplicate material collected at regular intervals during the crushing and screening process.
A total of 148 samples were collected, averaging 1.87 grams per ton (g/t) gold (Au) and 13 g/t silver (Ag). The first batch of 32 samples, with 111 samples pending, showed slightly higher grades of gold and silver, averaging 2.02 g/t Au and 15.6 g/t Ag. These samples were collected from the fine fraction of screened material not included in the heap leach pile.
The fine fraction, along with additional bulk sample material, will be used for testing gravity recovery methods. The samples were sent to ALS Hermosillo for fire assay and ICP analysis. They consist of 910.7 kg of crush-reject material collected from the Bulk Sample for heap leach testing, which is currently underway.
In a statement, Brodie Sutherland, CEO of Tocvan, expressed his excitement about the results, noting: "Pilar continues to surprise with excellent gold and silver values. The results are clearly indicating the average grade of material making up the Bulk Sample are well above our expectations for gold and silver."
Sutherland added: "To see this represented in the data gives us added confidence that Pilar can be advanced towards production, especially with these impressive grades. We eagerly await the results from heap leaching and further evaluation of gravity recovery methods."
The Pilar Gold-Silver property has been yielding promising results, including some of the region's best drill results, and with encouraging gold and silver recovery from metallurgical test work, the property is poised to become a potential near-term producer.
Tocvan aims to capitalize on this opportunity and is focusing on the development of the Pilar Gold-Silver project as well as its El Picacho Gold-Silver project in Sonora, Mexico.
Contact the author at jon.hopkins@proactiveinvestors.com