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Highlights:
- Arizona Gold & Silver Inc. focuses on the Philadelphia gold-silver property with successful metallurgy tests.
- Column leach tests demonstrate strong gold and modest silver extraction rates for heap leach operations.
- Previous test work confirmed high gold extraction through cyanide leaching in different property areas.
Arizona Gold & Silver Inc. (TSXV:AZS) has announced the results of metallurgy tests performed on the Philadelphia gold-silver property. This project, located in a promising precious metals region, involved bulk samples of oxidized material taken from both underground and surface areas. These tests aimed to confirm whether the gold-silver material from this property is suitable for heap leaching, a cost-effective technique for recovering precious metals from large-tonnage deposits.
Column Leach Tests for Gold and Silver Recovery
Column leach tests, commonly used in the industry, were employed to evaluate the effectiveness of heap leach methods on oxidized material from the Philadelphia site. These tests helped determine the optimum crushing and recovery characteristics of the gold-silver samples. Agitation leaching was also carried out at different grind sizes to assess both gold and silver recovery for milling purposes. The program highlighted significant extraction rates for gold, while the silver recovery aligned with expectations for such oxide materials.
Observations from Metallurgical Findings
Greg Hahn, Vice President of Exploration at Arizona Gold & Silver Inc., remarked that the results from the metallurgy test were promising, especially for gold extraction. Hahn pointed out that no sulphide material was observed in either the old workings or recent drilling. This absence, combined with the strong performance of the column leach work, indicates that the Philadelphia site’s oxide material could yield significant gold extractions. As the tests continued for over five months, further projections suggested that the overall gold recovery might increase further in a commercial heap leach operation.
The metallurgy test program compared various crush sizes to simulate real-world heap leach operations. The tests revealed that metal extractions at the Philadelphia site align with other regional heap leach operations. These findings are encouraging for the company’s future activities at the property, showcasing the potential to improve extraction rates over extended periods.
Previous Test Results at Philadelphia Site
Earlier metallurgical test work conducted by Arizona Gold & Silver Inc. focused on the northern portion of the Philadelphia property. That work demonstrated that both high-grade and low-grade gold material responded well to cyanide leaching, achieving significant gold extraction. However, silver recovery was not evaluated in those earlier tests. The current metallurgy program expands on those earlier findings, confirming the suitability of the oxidized material for heap leach recovery methods.
Bulk Material and Leach Test Procedure
The recent metallurgy work at Philadelphia included testing approximately 429 kilograms of oxidized material from two key sites on the property. These samples reflected the dominant geological formations present in the area. Three columns were tested from each site at varying crush sizes, ranging from 6.3mm to 12.5mm. Additionally, bottle roll leach tests were performed on finer material, with ultimate extraction rates and reagent consumption analyzed to gauge the effectiveness of the process.
These tests also included an evaluation of the load permeability after the leach cycle, which provides critical information about the potential heap heights in a full-scale operation. This comprehensive approach allows Arizona Gold & Silver Inc. to assess the viability of heap leaching at Philadelphia, with promising results thus far for continued development.
