Positive Initial Results from Phase 1 Tailings Programme at Teck-Hughes
Records gold grades 16.9% higher than historically reported
Fulcrum Metals plc (LON: FMET), a company focused on mineral exploration and development in Canada, is pleased to announce initial results of the Phase 1 sampling and testing programme (“the Programme”) at the Teck-Hughes gold tailings project, Canada.
Highlights
· Sampling completed by local contractors across six site locations to provide representative sampling across the Teck-Hughes tailings.
· Composite samples for each site returned an average weighted grade of 0.717g/t Au which is 16.9% higher (see table 1) compared to historic sampling of the same sites.
· Composite sample of all six sites of 0.723g/t Au submitted for batch leach testing using Extrakt technology for gold recovery rates.
· 12 samples from first batch leach testing submitted to American Assay Laboratories for gold recovery rate analysis.
· Second batch leach testing run underway for refinement and optimisation.
· Final results from Phase 1 will feed into Phase 2 conceptual study.
A total of 32 samples were taken for testing across six locations and composited into individual samples. Testing of the gold grades within the tailings has been extremely successful with composite samples for each of the six sites sampled, returning an average weighted grade of 0.717g/t Au which is 16.9% higher (see table 1) than historic sampling of the same sites.
First batch leach testing using the Extrakt technology has been completed with 12 samples sent to an external laboratory for gold rate recovery analysis, whilst a second batch leach test run is underway.
The Company announced on 30 November 2023 that, inter alia, it had entered into a mining option agreement to acquire the Teck-Hughes gold tailings project. Since this announcement Fulcrum has been advancing its discussions with Extrakt, a sustainable technology company using separation technology to extract metals from tailings without the use of cyanide, about the licensing of its proprietary technology. In addition, further to the Company’s announcement on 24 January 2024, Fulcrum entered into a phased study and testing programme for the Teck-Hughes project and is continuing further discussions in relation to a wider licencing framework, including the Sylvanite Gold Tailings Project.
The Programme is designed to evaluate the efficiency of Extrakt’s processing technology in recovering gold and other by-products from the tailings at Teck-Hughes.
Ryan Mee, Chief Executive Officer of Fulcrum, commented: “I am delighted that the results of the sampling and testing of the gold grades at Teck-Hughes have come in above expectations and at 16.9% higher than the historical reported average.
The first batch of leaching samples using Extrakt’s technology is at the laboratory for assay whilst a second batch of leach testing is underway as we refine testing parameters and optimise recovery rates from the tailings. The leaching samples are essentially to find out the gold recoverable rates from the tailings material.
I look forward to updating the market on the results of the leaching test work at Teck-Hughes, progress on a programme at Sylvanite and indeed progress on the tailings business as a whole as we map out an exciting future for the company and its shareholders.”
Phase 1 sampling and testing
Sampling – complete across six locations chosen to provide representative sampling across the tailings with 32 samples (totalling 39kg). The samples were composited into six individual site composite samples for testing.
Grade and composition testing – the six composite samples were sent for ICP multi-element analysis and gold fire assay at the ISO-17025 accredited American Assay Laboratories facility in Sparks, Nevada. Results confirmed gold results with average weighted grade of 0.717g/t Au being 16.9% higher (see table 1) compared to historic sampling at the same sites. Initial XRD Semi-Quantitative Analysis of the six samples reports primary tailings composition comprising quartz – felspar – carbonate. Further detailed XRD analyses to be carried out.
Gold recovery testing – a composite sample across all six sites grading 0.723g/t Au was then submitted for batch leach testing using Extrakt technology for gold recovery rates. The First batch leach testing of 12 samples has been run and sent to ISO-17025 accredited American Assay Laboratories facility in Sparks, Nevada for gold recovery rates analysis. A second batch leach test run with further refinement and optimisation is underway that will then also be submitted to American Assay Laboratories for similar analysis.
Next steps – Further detailed analysis of the tailings composition is to be undertaken in addition to at least a second batch leach test run using Extrakt Technology to further refine testing parameters, which will also be sent for gold recovery rate analysis at American Assay Laboratories. Results of the final sampling and testing will feed into Phase 2 conceptual study
Table 1 – Comparison of Fulcrum’s 2023 sampling and gold grade analysis to reported historic grades for each site.
|
2023 |
Historical (1) |
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|
Site Location |
Metres sampled |
Average g/t Au |
Metres sampled |
Average g/t Au |
Diff to 2023 Grade g/t Au |
Diff to 2023 Grade % |
|
225-12 |
5.0 |
0.592 |
5.0 |
0.52 |
0.069 |
13.2% |
|
225-2 |
5.0 |
0.975 |
5.0 |
0.75 |
0.225 |
30.0% |
|
425-14 |
7.0 |
0.635 |
7.0 |
0.59 |
0.047 |
8.0% |
|
425-4 |
5.0 |
0.837 |
5.0 |
0.81 |
0.025 |
3.1% |
|
525-10 |
6.0 |
0.641 |
6.0 |
0.49 |
0.149 |
30.3% |
|
625-4 |
4.0 |
0.662 |
4.0 |
0.54 |
0.123 |
22.8% |
|
Total |
32.0 |
0.717 |
32.0 |
0.61 |
0.104 |
16.9% |
Notes:-
(1) Includes direct comparison of historic samples from 2019 and 2022
Phased development programme outline
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’s 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 study is aimed to be at a pre-feasibility accuracy level of ± 30%.
Teck-Hughes Gold Tailings Project Background
On 30 November 2023, the Company announced that it had entered into a mining option agreement to acquire 100% of the Teck-Hughes Gold Tailings Project. Concurrently, it also entered advanced discussions with Extrakt to test its proprietary sustainable processing technology on the tailings found at the project. Historic sampling and auger drilling campaigns were conducted at the project, the first in 1980 and the most recent between 2018 and 2022 which produced a non-complaint resource estimation.
As part of the most recent campaign a total of 95 auger samples were collected and assayed at Actlabs in Timmins. The highest sample assayed 1.73g/t Au with 72 of the 95 samples assaying between 0.5 to 0.8 g/t Au, the average being 0.66g/t Au.
Based on the data from this sampling along with that of the drill programme from 1980 an estimate of the tonnage was calculated over the north, west and northeast arm of the tailings totalling 6,531,300 tonnes of material at 0.66g/t Au for 138,460 ounces contained Au. This estimate remains to be verified by Fulcrum.
Glossary
|
Item |
Definition
|
|
“g/t” |
Grams per metric tonne
|
|
“ICP” |
Inductively Coupled Plasma – an analytical technique that can be used to measure elements at trace levels
|
|
“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 |
|
|
|
|
“QAQC” |
Quality assurance and quality control |
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.
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 this announcement of the matters and information presented in the form and context in which it appears.
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) |
