BASE METALS

SolGold metallurgical tests improve potential gold recovery

SolGold has completed a second phase of metallurgical test work for its Alpala copper-gold porphyry project in Ecuador, with improved recoveries across all valuable minerals indicating the potential for increased revenues.

Alpala in Ecuador

Alpala in Ecuador

The testwork showed gold recovery improved by 7% compared with the November 2019 preliminary economic assessment and showed the ability to produce a 26%-30% copper concentrate with gold and silver.

"The results … are being used to assess potential refinements to the flowsheet and our operating and capital cost estimates as well as improvements in revenues generated by upgraded recoveries," said CEO Nick Mather.

The testwork, to be used in the pre-feasibility study underway, will inform process flowsheet optimisation. Testwork confirmed low levels of deleterious elements such as arsenic, bismuth, cadmium, fluorine and others which can cause smelters to impose penalty charges on concentrate producers.

"The flotation tests have demonstrated the ability to produce a high-grade dominantly chalcopyrite concentrate throughout the modelled mine life and confirms the Alpala project to be a very low deleterious content deposit," said GM process and metallurgy Greg Harbort.

SolGold plans to undertake a bulk sampling programme to generate 20-to-30 tonnes of material for pilot plant evaluation. This will include vendor thickening and filtration tests, transportable moisture limits for shipment, rheology tests for concentrate and tailing pipelines and further tailing characterisation work. In addition, selected sample will be used for crushing tests and pyrite concentrate will be produced for further leach evaluation.

Shares in SolGold are trading at C48, valuing the company at $914 million.

 

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the farming sector, brought to you by the Kondinin team.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the farming sector, brought to you by the Kondinin team.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence Investor Sentiment Report 2024

Survey revealing the plans, priorities, and preferences of 120+ mining investors and their expectations for the sector in 2024.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence Mining Equities Report 2023

Access an exclusive, inside look on the quarterly mining IPOs and secondary raisings data and mining equities performance tables with an annual Stock Exchange Comparisons supplement.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence World Risk Report 2023 (feat. MineHutte ratings)

A detailed analysis of mining investment risks across 121 jurisdictions globally, built on 11 ‘hard risk’ metrics and an industrywide survey.

editions

Mining Journal Intelligence Global Leadership Report 2023: Social licence

Gain insights into social licence trends and best practices from interviews with 20+ top mining company executives and an industrywide survey.