Phase 1 metallurgical testing focused on the
Gold recoveries averaged 91% from 75 micron ('um') (200 Mesh) bottle roll cyanidation tests.
Gold recoveries estimated to be 91% for the Carbon in Leach ('CIL')/Carbon in Pulp ('CIP') process.
Gold recoveries for the combined gravity and flotation process are estimated at 84%.
Heap leach gold recovery is estimated to range from 64-72% based on coarse size (9.5 mm) bottle roll testing, conventional column leach tests and Vat leach diffusion extraction testing.
Flotation recovery into a rougher concentrate recovered on average 89% of the gold with a low mass pull of 3.7%, indicative that a small percentage of material would require further processing.
Low cyanide consumption at an average of 0.52 kg/mt for primary grind of P80 passing 75 um.
Gravity recovery has shown it may be an effective part of the flow sheet.
Low sulphide concentration and excess buffering capacity indicates Powerline is non-acid generating.
'Metallurgical test work highlights robust gold recoveries with multiple conventional mineral processing flow sheets and further optimization has a high likelihood to result in increased overall gold recoveries,'
Potential Mineral Processing Flow Sheets
Three gold recovery process flow sheets have been identified through the Phase 1 test program. This includes CIL or CIP gold extraction processes (91% gold recovery). The CIL/CIP flow sheet is the most commonly used milling gold recovery method worldwide. Canadian examples include Agnico Eagle's
Methodology
The Phase 1 metallurgical test program focused on the Powerline Deposit as it represents the majority (62%) of the
The Phase 1 test program for Powerline included acid-base accounting, mineralogy, comminution, bottle roll cyanidation (9.5 mm and 75 um), flotation, gravity recovery, column leach tests, Vat leach diffusion extraction tests, and a gravity-flotation-intensive cyanidation process simulation. The program was overseen by
The three representative master composites returned an average of 90.6% gold recovery using 75 um bottle roll testing. Overall gold extraction percentages ranged from 56.7% to 96.4%. These 75 um bottle roll tests show that gold recovery does not significantly change across variations in grade, depth from surface, sulphide content and lithology and that no organic carbon or other materials present preclude or reduce leach extraction rates (commonly referred to as non preg-robbing). The 75 um bottle roll tests had an average of 65% gold recovery within the first two hours and over 80% average gold recovery in the first 8 hours showing rapid gold recovery kinetics. Average cyanide consumption for the 75 um bottle rolls was low at 0.52 kg/t.
Industry standard comminution testing was completed on the composite samples to determine crusher work index (CWi), Bond's ball mill work index (BWi) and abrasion work index (Ai) parameters. The average CWi for the composites was 15.2 kWh/t and the BWi was 14.6 kWh/t, indicating Powerline is classified as medium to hard.
Gravity Recovery
Coarse gold is evident across Powerline and, therefore, gravity recovery was assessed as part of the Phase 1 program. Initial gravity recovery testing was completed on the three master composite samples and subsequently assayed as either rougher concentrate or cleaner concentrate. The Knelson concentrate produced the rougher concentrate, which was then further cleaned using a Gemeni table to produce the cleaner concentrate. Two grind sizes, 150 um (100 mesh) and 212 um (65 mesh), were tested throughout the gravity campaign, and the average gold recovery from rougher gravity concentrate was 53%.
Flotation
Flotation testing was conducted on all three composites across three different grind sizes: 150 um (100 mesh), 75 um (200 mesh), and 44 um (325 mesh). The tailings from the gravity recovery tests completed on the three composites were also assessed for flotation response at the 100 mesh particle size. All composites demonstrated high gold recovery in rougher concentrate with an average gold recovery of 89% from the composite samples. Of significance is the overall low mass pull of 3.7% on average. The high rougher flotation concentrate recovery along with the low mass pull suggests a small intensive cyanidation circuit leaching a flotation rougher concentrate as a process flow sheet option to be further investigated.
About Banyan
Banyan's primary asset, the
The 173 square kilometres ('sq km')
The inferred MRE for the
Contact:
President & CEO
Tel: 778 928 0556
Email: tchristie@banyangold.com
No stock exchange, securities commission or other regulatory authority has approved or disapproved the information contained herein.
FORWARD LOOKING INFORMATION: This news release contains forward-looking information, which is not comprised of historical facts and is based upon the Company's current internal expectations, estimates, projections, assumptions and beliefs. Such information can generally be identified by the use of forwarding-looking wording such as 'may', 'will', 'expect', 'estimate', 'anticipate', 'intend(s)', 'believe', 'potential' and 'continue' or the negative thereof or similar variations. Forward-looking information involves risks, uncertainties and other factors that could cause actual events, results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information. Forward looking information in this news release includes, but is not limited to, the Company's plans for future metallurgical test work; potential future economic studies, potential future advancement and optimization of processing flow sheets, and statements regarding process flow sheet expectations; mineral resource estimates; mineral recoveries and anticipated mining costs.
Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from such forward-looking information include uncertainties inherent in resource estimates, continuity and extent of mineralization, capital and operating costs varying significantly from estimates, the preliminary nature of metallurgical test results, delays in obtaining or failures to obtain required governmental, environmental or other project approvals, political risks, uncertainties relating to the estimation of mineral resources and the availability and costs of financing needed in the future, changes in equity markets, inflation, changes in exchange rates, fluctuations in commodity prices, availability of funding, and the other risks involved in the mineral exploration and development industry, enhanced risks inherent to conducting business in any jurisdiction, and those risks set out in Banyan's public documents filed on SEDAR. Although Banyan believes that the assumptions and factors used in preparing the forward-looking information in this news release are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on such information, which only applies as of the date of this news release, and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed time frames or at all. Banyan disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required by law.
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