Start of Sylvanite Gold tailings Sampling Programme
Initiates first phase testing and study agreement with Extrakt Processing Solutions
Update on proposed sale of Saskatchewan Uranium Projects
Fulcrum Metals plc (LON: FMET), a company focused on mineral exploration and development in Canada, is pleased to announce the initiation of the phased sampling, testing and study programme at the Sylvanite Gold Tailings project (“Sylvanite” or the “Project”) in the Kirkland Lake area of Ontario, in Canada.
This programme is designed to confirm the gold content in the tailings and evaluate the efficiency of Extrakt’s processing technology in recovering gold and other by-products from the tailings at Sylvanite estimated to be approximately 4.14 million tonnes at 0.47g/t Au for 67,051 ounces contained Au*.
Highlights
· Eight site locations selected for sampling across the Sylvanite tailings area designed to obtain a representative sample set for analysis and testing
· Composite samples of tailing material from each site to be sent to the Extrakt’s testing facility in Kentucky, USA
· The test work incorporates a full suite of metallurgical characterisation including ICP (minimum 40 elements, including gold), XRD mineralogical analysis and batch leach testing using Extrakt’s technology
· Sampling at the selected sites to commence imminently
Ryan Mee, Chief Executive Office of Fulcrum, commented:
“Earlier this month the Company announced the results from initial leach testing at the Teck-Hughes tailings project. The testing, which used Extrakt’s technology, recovered up to 59.4% of gold, which is an incredible achievement, especially when you consider that recovery rates from refractory gold, without the use of toxic cyanide and pre-treatment, usually recovers less than 40%. We believe that with further optimisation recovery rates have the potential to increase to beyond 60%.
“Having seen the important successful results at Teck-Hughes, I am delighted to announce the commencement of work at Sylvanite with a similar programme and we now have multiple work programmes underway to develop our tailings assets.
“It is an exciting period of growth for Fulcrum as it sets itself out from its peers as a sustainable and responsible metals company with a pathway to transform mine tailings from an environmental liability into a sustainable cash generative resource by extracting metals from mine waste through innovative technology.
“I look forward to providing further updates on developing the exciting potential of Fulcrum’s tailings business in Ontario.”
Further information
The historic non-compliant resource estimate cited above has not been verified by Fulcrum and the tailings body requires detailed follow-up sampling along with appropriate QAQC and estimation by an independent qualified resource geologist in order to be able to report a resource compliant with established resource codes.
Licensing discussions with Extrakt
The Company announced mining option agreements to acquire its first tailings project, the Teck-Hughes project, on 30 November 2023 and its second tailings project, the Sylvanite project on 10 April 2024. Since the announcement on 30 November 2023, Fulcrum has been advancing its discussions with Extrakt, a sustainable technology company which uses separation technology to extract metals from tailings without the use of cyanide, about the licensing of its proprietary technology. On 24 January 2024, Fulcrum entered into a phased study and testing programme for the Teck-Hughes Project and on 12 June 2024 for the Sylvanite project. The company is continuing term sheet stage discussions with Extrakt in relation to a wider licencing framework in Ontario.
Phased development programme
Phase 1 – High-Level Gold Recovery Investigation
Initial high-level gold recovery investigation will serve as the primary evaluation of the enhanced gold recovery achievable through Extrakt technology. The data collected in this phase will validate and refine the technology and support the planned Phase 2.
Phase 2 – Conceptual Study
The conceptual study will provide Fulcrum with a first insight into the project viability using the information developed during Phase 1. According to the information available, the accuracy level of the study is approximately ± 50%.
Phase 3 – Laboratory Test Work
More detailed test work is required to optimise some of the leach parameters as well as develop necessary scale-up parameters for all the major equipment of the operation.
Phase 4 – Economic Assessment Study
The economic assessment study will provide a more accurate insight into the project viability using the more detailed test work results for the whole of the flowsheet. The accuracy of the study is aimed to be at a pre-feasibility level of ± 30% accuracy level.
Sylvanite Gold Mine Tailings Project
On 10 April 2024 the Company announced that it had entered into an option to buy 100% of the Sylvanite tailings project located within the Timiskaming District, approximately 3 kilometres north of Kirkland Lake, Ontario.
*A 1986 report filed on the property estimated a tailings resource of 4.52 million tons (4.14 million tonnes) grading 0.015 oz/ton Au (0.47g/t Au) containing 67,051 ounces of gold.
In 2008 a 30m x 25m sampling grid was established with drilling to base of tailings to obtain samples for assay and recovery test work – 1.22m sample length in 149 holes totalling 926.6m – with a maximum tailings thickness of 12.2m reported. An average grade of 0.541g/t Au was reported in the 20 holes fully sampled and assayed.
Update on proposed sale of Saskatchewan Uranium Projects to Terra Balcanica Resources Corp
Further to the Company’s announcement on 17 May 2024, Fulcrum confirms that the transaction for the proposed sale of its uranium projects (the “Uranium Projects”) located in Saskatchewan, Canada to Terra Balcanica Resources Corp. (“Terra”) is now expected to be completed shortly. Full details of the proposed transaction are set out in the Company’s announcement on 3 April 2024.
Qualified Person Statement
The technical information in this announcement has been reviewed by Edward (Ed) Slowey, BSc, PGeo, technical advisor to Fulcrum Metals Plc. Mr Slowey is a graduate geologist with more than 40 years’ relevant experience in mineral exploration and mining and a founder member of the Institute of Geologists of Ireland. Mr Slowey has sufficient experience relevant to the style of mineralisation and type of deposit under consideration and to the activity which has been undertaken to qualify as a “Qualified Person” in accordance with the AIM Rules Guidance Note for Mining and Oil & Gas Companies. Mr Slowey consents to the inclusion in the announcement of the matters based on their information in the form and context in which it appears.
Glossary
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Item |
Definition
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“Au” |
Gold |
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“g/t” |
Grams per metric tonne
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“ICP” |
Inductively Coupled Plasma – an analytical technique that can be used to measure elements at trace levels
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“QAQC” |
Quality assurance and quality control |
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“XRD” |
X-Ray Diffraction analysis – a non-destructive technique that provides detailed information about the crystallographic structure, chemical composition, and physical properties of a material |
Further information
The various historic non-compliant resource estimates cited above have not been verified by Fulcrum and the tailings body requires detailed follow-up sampling along with appropriate QAQC and estimation by an independent qualified resource geologist in order to be able to report a resource compliant with established resource codes.
For further information please visit https://fulcrummetals.com/ or contact:
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Fulcrum Metals PLC |
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Ryan Mee (Chief Executive Officer) |
Via St Brides Partners Limited |
