Initial metallurgical test work on two samples from Orezone Resources‘ (OZN-T) Essakan gold project in Burkina Faso indicates a high gold recovery rate via standard gravity recovery and cyanide leaching.
Average gold recovery from both oxide and sulphide material from the Essakan Main Zone (EMZ) exceeds 95%, with more than half the gold reporting to the gravity circuit; the remaining gold responded well to leaching in only 24 hours.
The gravity circuit recovered 51.6% of the gold from the zone’s oxide material, with subsequent leaching recovering 98% of the remaining gold, for a total recovery of just more than 99%. The sulphide material surrendered 83.3% of its gold to the gravity circuit, with leaching able to extract 72.3% of what gold was left behind; overall recovery comes to 95.4%.
Orezone president Ron Little says the clean, easy leaching sulphides will allow his company to model the deposit to greater depths. Detailed metallurgical testing is planned as part of feasibility studies.
The EMZ is home to an indicated resource of 49 million tonnes grading 1.5 grams gold per tonne, or 2.4 million contained ounces of gold. An additional 5.7 million tonnes grading 1.7 grams gold are classified as inferred resources. The figures are based on a cutoff grade of 0.5 gram gold.
Gold Fields (GFI-N) is funding an ongoing reverse-circulation drill program on the project; the South African major will have spent more than US$8 million on, and earned a half-stake in, the project by drilling wraps up. Gold Fields can then boost its stake to 60% by completing a bankable feasibility study.
The partners expect to table a new resource figure in early June, with a full feasibility study slated to start in September.
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