Ximen Mining Corp (CVE:XIM) (FRA:1XMA) (OTCQB:XXMMF) has told investors that it plans to assess the resource potential of the tailings from the formerly producing Wilcox gold mine, near the town of Nelson, British Columbia.
The mine generated high-grade gold and processed around 14,555 tonnes between 1900 and 1940 and Ximen's claims near Ymir cover its tailings deposit.
A report in 2005 estimated the tonnage of the tailings to be 12,387 tonnes with an average grade of 3.09 grams per tonne (g/t) gold, based on assays of 65 samples collected on a grid pattern. The in-situ gold potential was estimated at 1,230 ounces.
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"This season, Ximen is planning to carry out a detailed survey and sampling program of the tailings area to better define the physiography and resource potential of the Wilcox tailings," the precious metals explorer said in a statement.
"Activities include grid surface sampling, auger drilling, high resolution drone photogrammetry, metallurgical testing, and detailed GPS surveys," it added.
Ximen said the findings would be used to assess the possibility of custom treatment to recover the gold.
In addition, Ximen said the mine waste dumps from the Ymir mine and others will be sampled to "check their precious metal content".
Last century, ore from Wilcox was processed at a mill adjacent to the mine site, which yielded low gold recoveries with unrecovered gold remaining in the tailings material.
Ximen Mining owns a 100% interest in three of its precious metal projects located in southern British Columbia. Its two gold projects are the Amelia gold mine and the Brett epithermal gold project. The company also owns the Treasure Mountain silver project adjacent to the past producing Huldra Silver mine.
Contact the author at giles@proactiveinvestors.com