Golden Rim Resources Ltd (ASX:GMR)'s scoping-level metallurgical test-work for Kada Gold Project in Guinea has yielded "outstanding" gold recoveries for oxide ore types and very good recoveries for transition and fresh ore types.
The company engaged Minescope to undertake a scoping-level metallurgical test-work program on diamond drill composites from Kada.
This test-work was conducted on four composite gold mineralised intercepts, representing the four major Kada oxidation states: oxide mineralisation (laterite and saprolite), transitional mineralisation and fresh rock mineralisation.
Oxide result key
The majority of the defined Kada resource is oxide and the company is targeting additional oxide mineralisation.
Metallurgical test-work for Kada demonstrates gold mineralisation is free-milling with high gold recoveries and can be processed with the conventional carbon-in-leach (CIL) process.
Key conclusions from the test-work are that:
- Estimated cyanide leach recoveries for oxide ores are 95 to 97%;
- Estimated cyanide leach recoveries for transition and fresh ores are 88%;
- Very good leaching kinetics were exhibited by the oxide ores with extractable gold dissolved within 24 hours;
- An optimum grind size of 80% passing 75 microns was identified;
- Comminution results exhibited Medium Hardness; and
- Neither gravity concentration nor oxygen injection is required.
Kada has a maiden JORC 2012 inferred mineral resource estimate of 930,000 ounces of gold, including 670,000 ounces of shallow oxide-transitional gold.
Test-work sound basis for scoping
The metallurgical test-work program was completed by ALS in Perth under MInescope’s technical supervision.
This program provides a sound basis for scoping and economic studies and will assist with targeting of resource extensional and infill drilling during 2022.
Managing director Craig Mackay said: “The outstanding gold recoveries observed in the preliminary metallurgical test-work is a major milestone for the Kada Gold Project, enabling a conventional processing operation.
“These recoveries, on the back of our recently announced maiden inferred mineral resource estimate of 930,000 ounces of gold, allow us to begin aggressively drilling numerous targets along the Kada Gold Corridor, confident the deposit can provide free-milling ore to a conventional process.”
Next steps
The company regards the results as highly encouraging and is planning follow-up metallurgical optimisation test-work later this year.
Drilling is due to re-commence at Kada in late March and early April, with reverse circulation (RC) drilling to test multiple targets along the Kada Gold Corridor.
The company will also conduct diamond drilling on high-grade down-dip extensions within the Massan prospect, where GMR has recently defined its maiden inferred mineral resource of 25.5 million tonnes at 1.1g/t gold for 930,000 ounces.