Astral Resources NL has reconfirmed strong average 24-hour gold recoveries from metallurgical samples taken from the Theia deposit, part of the Mandilla Gold Project in Western Australia.
The company used samples collected from six zones at Theia, crushed and combined to form representative sections to provide variability coverage across the deposit.
AAR says the results were “outstanding”, with an average gravity recovery of 87.6% and an average 24-hour recovery of 98.2% (minimum 94.7%, maximum 99.6%).
“Exceptional” gold recovery results
“Previous metallurgical test work demonstrated the cornerstone Theia deposit at Mandilla to have outstanding metallurgical characteristics in both the oxide and fresh rock samples,” Astral Resources managing director Marc Ducler said.
“More recently we have completed variability metallurgical test work to satisfy the requirements of our Mandilla pre-feasibility study (PFS).
“The latest phase of metallurgical test work involved the collection of 234 samples, representing six sections along the Theia ore body.
“Once again, the results are exceptional, achieving an average gravity recovery of 87.6% and an average overall gold recovery after only 24-hours of leaching of 98.2%.
“Pleasingly, these results were achieved using a coarse grind size of 150µm (meaning reduced power consumption) and low reagent consumption, consistent with previous results, which is expected to support low processing costs in the PFS.
“With the focus firmly on delivering a technically and financially robust PFS, which is expected to occur in the June Quarter, these latest metallurgical results, together with the metallurgical results for the Hestia, Eos and Iris deposits at Mandilla announced to the ASX on 17 December 2024, provide further confirmation of the quality of Mandilla and represent another significant step in de-risking the Project.”
Read: Astral Resources broad Iris infill gold results to support Mandilla pre-feasibility study
The metallurgical testing was undertaken at a coarse grind size of 150µm, with a 200 parts per million cyanide concentration and a pH of 9. Cyanide and lime consumption averaged 0.35 kilograms per tonne and 1.90 kilograms per tonne respectively.
Updated mineral resource incoming
“Meanwhile, Cube Consulting is currently finalising the updated Mandilla mineral resource estimate, the results of which are expected to be announced in the March Quarter. Mine design work, to support the PFS, will then commence,” Ducler continued.
“Elsewhere, diamond drill results from the three-hole program at the Feysville Project’s Kamperman Deposit are expected in the coming weeks.
“The air-core program at Feysville has also been completed with assay results also due in the near term. A 46-hole RC drill program is expected to commence at Feysville in March 2025.
“Finally, the off-market take-over of Maximus Resources is continuing to progress with, at the date of this announcement, Astral holding a relevant interest in Maximus of approximately 72.20%. With the offer now free of conditions.
“Maximus shareholders that accept the offer will be issued Astral shares within ten business days.”
Once the updated mineral resource estimate is released in the March quarter, AAR intends to produce a pre-feasibility study for Mandilla in the June quarter.