Apr 11 2018
Manitou Gold Inc. reports receipt of metallurgical test work designed to divulge indications of expected gold recoveries at its Kenwest property situated approximately 50 km South of Dryden, Ontario.
A map illustrating the bulk sample location (Image credit: Manitou Gold Inc.)
After the receipt of the preliminary surface bulk sample results, in which Manitou recovered 6.5 g/t gold over a trench length of 12.1 m, the company bid SGS Minerals to prepare a representative 100 kg composite, for metallurgical testing at the SGS Lakefield laboratory. The preparation of the composite sample was carried out directly by SGS, in their secure facilities.
The metallurgical test work concentrated on the amenability of a bulk sample to gravity separation and cyanide leaching. The test work was also used to verify the head grade of the sample.
The bulk sample was crushed well to 80% passing through a 103-micron screen and used for a single gravity separation and bulk cyanidation test. The gravity gold recovery from the Knelson concentrate was measured at 88.6%, which is said to be a very high recovery level in a simple gravity circuit.
The gravity tailing sample reacted well to cyanidation using regular conditions, with the 48-hour leach extraction testing delivering 95.1% recovery. The total gravity, as well as cyanidation gold recovery, was consequently, very high at 99.4% for the composite sample.
SGS also reports that the calculated head grade of the 100 kg composite sample was 8.9 g/t gold. This contrasts with the anticipated 6.5 g/t head grade earlier obtained from prior testing of the bulk sample by SGS. This contrast indicates that extra bulk sample testing will be needed to define reliable grades for the Kenwest gold mineralization as progress happens at the property.
Lime (CaO) and cyanide (NaCN) consumptions were both 0.79 kg/t.
I am very encouraged by both the very high gold recoveries reported by SGS laboratories, as well as by the increased grade of gold actually retrieved from this initial metallurgical test sample taken at Kenwest. These results clearly indicate the need for additional bulk sampling, in order to get a better understanding of the full grade potential of the Kenwest gold mineralization.
Richard Murphy, CEO of Manitou Gold
Manitou is presently developing a new 3D model of the project geology and mineralization so as to form plans for the next phase of exploration drilling. Simultaneously, the company is preparing documentation needed for permitting an underground bulk sample at Kenwest.