A preliminary metallurgical test program by Maximus Resources Ltd (ASX:MXR, OTC:MXRRF) has delivered high gold recoveries from the Eagles Nest Gold Deposit, including gold recovery rates of 89.5% to 92.4%.
Eagles Nest is around 7 kilometres south of the company’s Wattle Dam Gold Project, in Western Australia's Eastern Goldfields Kambalda/Widgiemooltha region.
Maximus completed the test-work on representative oxide, transitional and fresh mineralised intervals to evaluate potential recovery rates across the expected mining widths of the Eagles Nest gold resource.
The robust metallurgical test results featured an average 90.5% gold recovery within the oxide zone, 90.9% recovery in transitional mineralisation and 91.8% recovery in primary mineralisation.
Suitable for gold processing
Importantly, the results confirm the 42,500 ounces at 2.0 g/t gold Eagles Nest resource is free-milling (non-refractory), suitable for conventional gold processing as found throughout Eastern Goldfields.
“A key aspect of understanding any mineral resource potential is to test early for metallurgical performance,” Maximus managing director Tim Wither said.
“These results demonstrate Eagles Nest gold mineralisation is free milling (non-refractory) delivering excellent recoveries from conventional gold processing.
“The combination of high metallurgical recoveries and near-surface mineralisation increases the economics of the Eagles Nest for future development.
“The Eagles Nest remains open along strike offering upside to the existing resource and is a fantastic exploration target with over 3 kilometres of untested strike.”
Eagles Nest Gold Deposit long-section displaying MRE block model and recent drill holes (white labels) selected for Accelerated Cyanide Leach analysis.
What’s ahead?
Maximus has planned a follow-up drill program at Eagles Nest, scheduled to commence next month.
This drilling aims to further delineate shallow mineralisation within an optimised pit shell, enhancing mineral classification confidence in preparation for an upcoming MRE update.
“The next steps for Eagles Nest are to follow up from the previous drill program which delineated shallow mineralisation such as 8 metres at 3.12 g/t gold from 45 metres including 1 metre at 15.9 g/t gold from 45 metres,” said Wither.
“The follow-up drilling, scheduled for early December will target the shallow mineralisation within an optimised pit shell to improve mineral classification confidence in preparation for a mineral resource estimate (MRE) update.”
Further metallurgical testing will be conducted on the Eagles Nest mineralisation to evaluate gravity recoveries, optimal grind size and reagent consumption.
Wither added, “The company continues to de-risk the project with development studies including additional metallurgical testing to determine gravity recoveries, grind size and reagent consumption for optimal gold recovery.”
The company is also continuing necessary development studies in preparation for a mining proposal submission next year.