Tocvan Ventures is taking its next significant step toward full production with the pouring of the first doré gold and silver bar from bulk sample material processed at its Pilar project in Sonora, Mexico.
The bar weighs in at 1.487 kilograms, and local certified laboratory LTM returned assay results of 18% gold and 69% silver. The bar was processed at a local facility; results are pending to determine other metals present and quantify the remaining gold and silver present in the carbon material.
Remaining gold and silver in the carbon and will be processed shortly during a second doré bar pour.
The bulk sample, according to the Canadian-based company, included 700 tonnes of crushed and processed material through heap leach, returning a 1.9 g/t Au head grade and gold recovery of 62%. An additional 700-t bulk sample is also available for testing of alternative recovery methods including gravity with agitated leach.
CEO Brodie Sutherland said the recovery and pouring of the bar is an “important step” toward advancing Pilar, especially since the high head grade is well above the average for open-pit mines in the region.
“The recoveries are also consistent with local operations, with the advantage at Pilar for even higher recovery through gravity and agitated leach methods,” he said. “More gold and silver are yet to be extracted from the material in hand while we continue to advance our near-term permitting initiatives towards mine development.”
Tocvan wholly owns Pilar. It also is earning 100% into the El Picacho gold-silver project in the Mexican state.
Source: Tocvan