The technical report does not provide detailed information on processing and recovery methods, as Section 17 (Recovery Methods) explicitly states: “This section is not relevant to this report.”
However, the report does contain relevant geological and mineral resource details that may indirectly inform potential processing approaches:
Key Observations on Potential Processing & Recovery:
1. Mineralization Characteristics:
– The Troilus deposit is a gold-copper system with minor silver, zinc, lead, and traces of bismuth, tellurium, and molybdenum.
– Two mineralization styles are noted: disseminated and vein-hosted, with gold spatially correlated with sulphides (though sulphide content does not directly correlate with grade).
– Host rocks include diorite breccia, diorite, and felsic dikes.
2. Historical Context:
– The Z87 and J4/J5 Zones were previously mined via open pit (1996–2010), suggesting conventional crushing, grinding, and flotation/cyanidation may have been used.
– No specific historical recovery rates or metallurgical data are provided in this report.
3. Metallurgical Work Planned:
– The report mentions that metallurgical testwork was underway in summer 2020 to support a pre-feasibility study, but results are not included.
– Recommendations include re-analyzing 2018 drill samples for silver and bulk density, indicating these elements may influence future processing plans.
4. Resource Estimates (Indicative of Feed Material):
– Open-pit resources:
– Indicated: 164.2 Mt @ 0.68 g/t Au, 0.08% Cu, 1.20 g/t Ag.
– Inferred: 101.2 Mt @ 0.60 g/t Au, 0.07% Cu, 1.12 g/t Ag.
– Underground resources (higher grade):
– Indicated: 13.1 Mt @ 1.61 g/t Au, 0.13% Cu.
– Inferred: 15.5 Mt @ 1.62 g/t Au, 0.11% Cu.
5. Potential Processing Challenges & Considerations:
– Gold association with sulphides suggests flotation or oxidative pre-treatment (e.g., pressure oxidation, bioleaching) may be required if gold is refractory.
– Copper content could necessitate a Cu-Au separation circuit (e.g., selective flotation).
– Low silver grades may not justify dedicated recovery but could be a byproduct.
6. Innovations & Future Work:
– The report emphasizes the need for further drilling and metallurgical studies to define optimal recovery methods.
– No specific equipment or flow sheets are discussed, but the presence of copper and variable gold grades implies a need for tailored processing.
Conclusion:
While the report confirms the project’s mineral resource potential, it defers detailed processing and recovery discussions to future studies (e.g., PEA/pre-feasibility). Historical mining suggests conventional methods were previously applied, but updated metallurgical data will be critical for designing the modern circuit.
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Let me know if you’d like further elaboration on any aspect.
