Canadian-based, U.S.-focused Liberty Gold has reported positive results from its recent metallurgical bottle roll and column testing of gold mineralization at its Black Pine oxide gold project in southeastern Idaho.
During Phase 4B and 4C of metallurgical testing, an 84.2% weighted average gold extraction, ranging up to 94.2%, was reported from 36 column leach tests. More than 80% of leachable gold was extracted within 10 days of column leaching for both phases of testing.
“The consistency of results across all phases of testwork is encouraging and demonstrates the predictable nature of gold recovery across this extensive Carlin-style oxide gold system,” said President and CEO Jon Gilligan.
“With more than 150 columns completed the test results provide a strong level of confidence for the proposed run of mine heap leach processing approach.”
Metallurgical testwork results on 149 composites and six bulk samples over five years are highly consistent, noted the company, showing rapid leach kinetics, predictable grade-recovery and size-recovery relationships.
Liberty Gold said Phase 5 composite selection and sample preparation is under way on an additional 25 variability composites from previously untested areas.
Black Pine is a past-producing, heap leach oxide gold mine in Cassia County. It operated from 1991 through 1998 and produced approximately 435,000 ounces of gold.