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Highlights:
- Strong Gold Recovery Rates: Metallurgical testing at Lady Julie North 4 (LJN4) by Magnetic Resources NL (ASX:MAU) achieved an average gold recovery of over 91% across seven composites, regardless of oxidation states.
- Enhanced Recovery through Advanced Techniques: Incorporating flotation and fine grinding into the process improved recovery rates by 4-8% for Fresh Core and Fresh South composites, indicating the potential for further optimization.
- Suitability for Conventional Processing: Testing has consistently shown the project's mineralization is suitable for gravity and leach processing methods, with no evidence of preg-robbing across samples.
Magnetic Resources NL (ASX:MAU) has reported encouraging results from metallurgical testing at its Lady Julie North 4 (LJN4) gold project in Western Australia. This recent work highlights the project's potential to achieve robust gold recovery rates while optimizing processing methods for improved efficiency.
The metallurgical tests, which expanded on earlier studies, revealed an average gold recovery exceeding 91% across all oxidation states in seven composites. These results underline the consistency of the project's mineralization and its amenability to modern processing techniques.
Advances in Recovery Techniques
Of the seven composites tested, five underwent conventional gravity and CIL (carbon-in-leach) leaching. The remaining two incorporated flotation and fine grinding of the float concentrates. This advanced processing approach led to a notable improvement in gold recovery rates for Fresh Core and Fresh South composites, with enhancements ranging from 4% to 8%.
The Fresh Core material, which largely consists of underground deposits extending up to one kilometer downdip, showed particular promise for further refinement through these methods. However, additional testing is needed to optimize recovery rates fully.
Progress in Metallurgical Studies
Earlier metallurgical work conducted in January 2024 confirmed the suitability of LJN4’s mineralization for conventional gravity and leach processing. This was validated through initial tests on drill samples, which demonstrated the potential for high gold recovery.
In mid-2024, further tests were undertaken to examine larger samples and deeper fresh material. Seven metallurgical samples were selected from a comprehensive dataset of 46 drill holes, providing a robust foundation for the analysis.
The most recent studies also confirmed an absence of preg-robbing – a phenomenon where gold is absorbed by naturally occurring carbonaceous material, reducing recovery rates. The absence of this challenge further solidifies LJN4’s potential as a viable project for economic gold extraction.
Future Prospects
The ongoing metallurgical work at LJN4 continues to refine the understanding of its mineralogical properties and optimize processing techniques. With promising results indicating consistent recovery rates and the absence of preg-robbing, the project is well-positioned for further development and exploration activities.
Magnetic Resources’ commitment to detailed testing and advanced methodologies demonstrates its proactive approach to maximizing the value of its gold resources at Lady Julie North 4.
