777ϻ

EXPLORATION & DEVELOPMENT

SolGold testwork improves recoveries

Positive met tests for Alpala

Staff reporter

This article is 4 years old. Images might not display.

777ϻ

The testwork showed gold recovery improved by 7% compared with the November 2019 preliminary economic assessment and showed the ability to produce a 26%-30% copper concentrate with gold and silver.

"The results … are being used to assess potential refinements to the flowsheet and our operating and capital cost estimates as well as improvements in revenues generated by upgraded recoveries," said CEO Nick Mather.

The testwork, to be used in the prefeasibility study underway, will inform process flowsheet optimisation. Testwork confirmed low levels of deleterious elements such as arsenic, bismuth, cadmium, fluorine and others which can cause smelters to impose penalty charges on concentrate producers.

"The flotation tests have demonstrated the ability to produce a high-grade dominantly chalcopyrite concentrate throughout the modelled mine life and confirms the Alpala project to be a very low deleterious content deposit," general manager of process and metallurgy Greg Harbort said.

SolGold plans to undertake a bulk sampling program to generate 20-30 tonnes of material for pilot plant evaluation. This will include vendor thickening and filtration tests, transportable moisture limits for shipment, rheology tests for concentrate and tailing pipelines and further tailing characterisation work. In addition, selected sample will be used for crushing tests and pyrite concentrate will be produced for further leach evaluation.

Peel Hunt analysts said the work further supported Alpala's tier one status.

"The results should also help further any offtake or streaming discussions currently underway," they said.

Shares in SolGoldjumped 8% yesterday to 29p, valuing the company at£557 million.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the 777ϻ Intelligence team.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the 777ϻ Intelligence team.

editions

777ϻNews.net Research Report 2025

The MNN Research Report 2025 provides insights into critical mining themes in Australia/Oceania, including top projects, C-suite priorities, risk, ESG performance and investor sentiment.

editions

777ϻ Journal Intelligence: Investor Sentiment Report 2025

Exclusive insights into the plans, priorities and preferences of 130+ mining investors and top factors influencing investment decisions in 2025.

editions

777ϻ Journal Intelligence World Risk Report 2024 (feat. MineHutte ratings)

A detailed analysis of mining investment risks across 117 jurisdictions globally, assessed across six risk categories and an industrywide survey.

editions

777ϻ Company ESG Index: Benchmarking the Future of Sustainable 777ϻ

The 777ϻ Company ESG Index report provides an in-depth evaluation of ESG performance of 61 of the world's largest mining companies. Using a robust framework, it assesses each company across 9 meticulously weighted indicators within 6 essential pillars.