Matador Mining Limited (ASX:MZZ) has received excellent recoveries from tests of conventional direct cyanidation (CIL) and flotation processes at the Cape Ray Gold Project in Newfoundland, Canada.
The work was completed by SGS Canada and consisted of cyanide leach tests, gravity recovery and flotation test work.
Gold extractions up to 99% recovery
Excellent gold recoveries from both the cyanide (average 96% recovery) and the flotation test work (average 90% recovery) were in line with previous historical results.
Gravity test work is also encouraging with a maximum recovery of 58% achieved.
Test work was carried out on 10 samples with half sourced from the new deposits discovered in Matador’s 2018 drill program.
The other half were from the Central Zone and Window Glass deposit, which together host the majority of the current mineral resource.
Crucial metrics in confirming economic viability
Matador mining director Paul Criddle said: “These results illustrate that the project ores are amenable to conventional processing technologies that also deliver high gold recoveries.
“These recovery rates are crucial metrics in ensuring economic viability for the project as the company embarks on the next phase of development.
“The results are also encouraging in that they confirm that both cyanidation and flotation provide excellent metallurgical response, which means that we have options available to us as we develop the flowsheet to utilise one or a combination of both technologies.”
Representative samples
Samples were selected based on available assay, geographical and spatial data.
Four samples were selected from Isle Aux Mort, four from Central Zone and one each from Big Pond and Window Glass Hill.
READ: Matador Mining lifts gold resource 36% to more than 1 million ounces at Canadian project
The company has this week increased its gold resource at Cape Ray by 36% to in excess of 1 million ounces, defined across four areas within the exploration area.
The majority of this resource is contained within the Central Zone which hosts 810,000 ounces at a grade of 2.6 g/t.
- Jessica Cummins