Win-Eldrich aims for early production Nevada gold project

If results of the feasibility testing now under way prove satisfactory, Win-Eldrich Mines (TSE) could be seeing heap leach production from its Ashdown gold project in Nevada as early as mid-1989, Ruben Brant, the company’s president, tells The Northern Miner. And he estimates that this could be done at a total cost of around $2.5 million.

A former producing property that yielded some 51,000 tons of ore grading close to one-half ounce in the early 1900s, recent drilling by Win-Eldrich has now indicated reserves in excess of one million tons grading 0.109 oz.

The feasibility tests, which are being carried out at the Dawson Laboratories in Utah, will determine if a heap leaching process could be used in conjunction with an open pit operation, rather than a more costly milling process.

To date these tests indicate an 80% recovery with a 1/8-in particle size.

Preliminary negotiations are now under way relative to financing the project through to production, probably through some form of a gold loan, Brant says.

Additional fill-in reverse circulation drilling is slated to resume the first of August.