- An average gold recovery of 77% from eight composites using
conventional processing techniques – gravity and CIL
(carbon-in-leach)
- 97% using gravity + flotation.
- A flowsheet of gravity-flotation-CIL on reground concentrate
yields 72% gold recovery along with a high mass desulfurized
tailings stream
- Further optimization studies are underway.
VANCOUVER, BC, June 12,
2024 /CNW/ - Freegold Ventures Limited (TSX:
FVL) (OCTQX: FGOVF) ("Freegold" or the "Company") is pleased to
announce positive results based on the initial metallurgical test
work completed from the 2020 – 2022 drill program. The program's
objectives were:
- Determination of gold recovery and gold deportment to products
using standard and commercially employed mineral processing unit
operations
- Initial environmental assessment of process tailing
stream(s)
- Characterization of gold losses to focus ongoing metallurgical
programs to optimize the flowsheet design.
Eight drill core composites representing various locations and
grades within the Dolphin/Cleary areas were generated using
continuous drill intervals selected to represent potential mill
feed. (See map below for hole locations.) The drill hole and
interval selections encompassed the three primary gold-hosting
lithologies. Results demonstrate that a significant portion of
the mineralization is non-refractory and amenable to
conventional processing techniques. The composites were prepared
using laboratory assay rejects of fresh rock intervals well below
the existing oxide cap at Golden Summit. The eight drill hole
composites used 1,192m of drill
intercepts representing 587 continuous mineralized intervals with
over 5,100kg of material. Results from individual holes
demonstrate recoveries up to 87.5%. The average recovery from
the eight composites was 77% using gravity and CIL. Recoveries
increased to an average of 97.5% where gravity + flotation were
utilized. Environmental characterization using standard ABA
protocols gave a NP:AP ratio of 85:1 on the flotation tailings
stream, which would classify them as non-acid generating.
Metallurgical Composite Hole
Results
DDH no.
|
from m
|
to m
|
geochem
|
test calc
grade
|
gold recovery
%
|
|
|
|
|
|
grav/flot/regr
CIL
|
grav/CIL
|
gravity
|
grav+flot
|
|
|
|
Au g/t
|
Au g/t
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
GS2201
|
441.1
|
648.3
|
1.44
|
1.06
|
88.2
|
87.1
|
45.0
|
99.2
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
GS2203
|
287.8
|
478
|
2.13
|
2.24
|
75.1
|
77.2
|
48.2
|
97.6
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
GS2206
|
383.1
|
586.1
|
1.17
|
1.02
|
80.2
|
87.5
|
42.7
|
97.3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
GS2207
|
261.9
|
468.7
|
1.35
|
1.78
|
60.1
|
70.2
|
37.8
|
98.1
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
GS2208
|
266.3
|
367.2
|
1.33
|
1.48
|
48.1
|
53.3
|
25.3
|
97.5
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
GS2209
|
419
|
544.5
|
1.26
|
1.54
|
73.6
|
81.2
|
50.7
|
97.0
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
GS2168
|
352.7
|
479.5
|
0.75
|
0.83
|
63.7
|
73.2
|
31.1
|
94.3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
GS2167
|
396.3
|
428
|
2.15
|
1.01
|
71.7
|
69.2
|
49.5
|
96.3
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
overall predicted
grade
|
1.43
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
overall calc
grade/recovery from test work
|
|
1.43
|
72
|
77
|
42
|
97
|
The drilling success at Golden Summit since 2020 has been truly
remarkable. It has significantly increased the resource and
enhanced the project's potential. These positive metallurgical
results further solidify Golden Summit's potential. The current
pit-constrained resource at Golden Summit hosts both an oxide and a
primary resource. The oxide resource is contained within the top
70% metres. Previous column testwork on the oxide material
demonstrated that heap leach gold recoveries of 85% can be achieved
within two weeks.
Pit Constrained OXIDE Resource using $1,792 Gold
Cutoff
Au g/t
|
Category
|
Tonnes
|
Au
g/t
|
Au
Ounces
|
0.15
|
Indicated
|
52,030,000
|
0.39
|
657,000
|
0.15
|
Inferred
|
18,187,000
|
0.47
|
272,000
|
(approximately top
70 metres)
|
Pit Constrained PRIMARY Resource using $1,792 Gold: (February
2023)
Cutoff
Au g/t
|
Category
|
Tonnes
|
Au
g/t
|
Au
Ounces
|
0.45
|
Indicated
|
407,544,000
|
0.92
|
12,011,000
|
0.45
|
Inferred
|
282,303,000
|
0.85
|
7,736,000
|
Following the February 2023
resource update, Freegold conducted an additional 22,000 meters of
drilling in 37 holes within the resource area. A significant
increase in visible gold was observed in the drill core compared to
previous programs, particularly in the western part of the
resource. An updated mineral resource report based on the
2023 drilling is expected later this month. The success of the 2023
drilling program has set the stage for an even more exciting 2024
program. The upcoming phase will focus on optimization, testing the
2km gold-in-soil geochemical anomaly to the west, drilling large
diameter (PQ) holes to guide further and optimize metallurgical
recoveries, and modelling before economic studies commence.
Freegold has postponed the economic studies to investigate the
potential for higher grades in the western extension and to conduct
additional metallurgical test work, as both could significantly
impact the project's economics. The primary areas of focus in the
next phase of metallurgical test work are:
- Comminution studies using half PQ core
- Flotation concentrate oxidation pre-treatment prior to CIL
Map Showing Location of Metallurgical Composite Holes and
2024 Drilling
https://freegoldventures.com/site/assets/files/6287/goldensummit_dolphin-cleary_resource_drilling_western_a.jpg
The Qualified Person for this release is Alvin Jackson, P.Geo., Vice President of
Exploration and Development for Freegold, who has approved the
scientific and technical disclosure in this news release.
About Freegold Ventures
Limited
Freegold is a TSX-listed company focused on exploration in
Alaska. It holds the Golden Summit
Gold Project near Fairbanks and
the Shorty Creek Copper-Gold Project near Livengood through
leases.
Some statements in this news release contain forward-looking
information, including, without limitation, statements as to
planned expenditures and exploration programs, potential
mineralization and resources, exploration results, the completion
of an updated NI 43-101 technical report, and any other future
plans. These statements address future events and conditions and,
as such, involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other
factors which may cause the actual results, performance, or
achievements to be materially different from any future results,
performance, or achievements expressed or implied by the
statements. Such factors include, without limitation, the
completion of planned expenditures, the ability to complete
exploration programs on schedule, and the success of exploration
programs. See Freegold's Annual Information Form for the year ended
December 31st, 2023, filed under
Freegold's profile at www.sedar.com, for a detailed discussion of
the risk factors associated with Freegold's operations. On
January 30, 2020, the World Health
Organization declared the COVID-19 outbreak a global health
emergency. Reactions to the spread of COVID-19 continue to lead to,
among other things, significant restrictions on travel, business
closures, quarantines, and a general reduction in economic
activity. While these effects have been reduced in recent months,
the continuation and re-introduction of significant restrictions,
business disruptions, and related financial impact, and the
duration of any such disruptions cannot be reasonably estimated.
The risks to Freegold of such public health crises also include
employee health and safety risks and a slowdown or temporary
suspension of operations in geographic locations impacted by an
outbreak. Such public health crises, as well as global geopolitical
crises, can result in volatility and disruptions in the supply and
demand for various products and services, global supply chains, and
financial markets, as well as declining trade and market sentiment
and reduced mobility of people, all of which could affect interest
rates, credit ratings, credit risk, and inflation. As a result of
the COVID-19 outbreak, Freegold has implemented a COVID management
program and established a full-service Camp at Golden Summit to
attempt to mitigate risks to its employees, contractors, and
community. While the extent to which COVID-19 may impact Freegold
is uncertain, it is possible that COVID-19 may have a material
adverse effect on Freegold's business, results of
operations, and financial condition.
SOURCE Freegold Ventures Limited