Tietto Minerals Ltd (ASX:TIE) has received positive metallurgical test-work sample results that highlight the strong economic potential of the Abujar Gold Project in Côte d’Ivoire, West Africa.
The independent tests on samples from the 2.2-million-ounce project demonstrate highly favourable characteristics for low‐cost processing.
These include gold recoveries at coarse grind sizes ranging from 96% (180 µm) to 98% (106 µm) for fresh ore and optimum grind sizes of between 106 and 150 µm.
This demonstrates the potential use of a simple-stage crusher with SAG mill circuit.
Managing director Caigen Wang said: “These are further great results from our metallurgical test program with excellent gold recoveries obtained across a range of coarse grind sizes for fresh ore.
“In a nutshell, coarser grind sizes translate into reduced energy use and greater throughput compared to other operations that have to grind down to 75 µm.
“Gold mineralisation at AG looks to be very amenable to relatively simple crushing and grinding using a simple comminution flowsheet with single-stage crushing followed by SAG milling and lower power consumption.”
The test work program is now moving to cyanide leach optimisation work with expected completion in late June.
Tietto's shares have traded from 11.5 cents on March 23 to 40 cents on May 12, approaching the 12-month high of 42 cents set on October 17, 2019.
“Compelling” metrics
Wang continued: “These metrics are very compelling, and I look forward to providing further results from our test-work program being managed by Mintrex in Perth, which is moving into final optimisation stages.
“Drilling continues at Abujar and we remain on schedule for delivery of an updated resource in Q3 2020.
“This updated mineral resource and results from the metallurgical test-work program will underpin a PFS scheduled for delivery in Q1 2021.”
Next steps
Tietto’s fully funded 50,000-metre drilling program continues and aims to increase the resource inventory of existing deposits as well as identify new prospects within the 70-kilometre-long gold corridor, of which 90% of strike length remains to be tested.
The company’s own drill rigs continue to deliver high production rates at some of the lowest exploration costs in the gold sector, ensuring a steady flow of drill results that will be incorporated into a resource update in Q3 2020.
As well as advancing metallurgical test work necessary for the delivery of a pre-feasibility study in Q1 20201, the company expects to report additional drill results in the coming weeks.