Kavango Resources (LSE:KAV) said a comprehensive metallurgical programme on Hillside ore blends produced very positive results, delivering lab recoveries above 95% and expected real-world recoveries of 90-93%.
The Southern Africa-focused metals exploration and gold production company reported that kinetic leach tests on the upgrade and 50 tpd composite blends returned tailings of 0.14 g/t and 0.11 g/t, equating to ideal laboratory recoveries of 97% and 96% respectively.
"We are extremely encouraged by these results; all processing parameters are within normal ranges, with no excess grinding or reagent consumption requirements," said Peter Wynter Bee, Interim Chief Executive Officer of Kavango Resources.
Mineralogical work found the majority of gold occurs as native gold, Nightshift material is finer grained than Bill's Luck, there is coarse gold, and negligible preg-robbing carbon and low copper and zinc content.
Testwork identified an optimal grind of P80 = 75 microns, a cyanide addition set point of 0.8 kg/t, a selected leach residence time of 20 hours, gravity recoveries up to 90% and gravity-concentrate leach of 98% in 24 hours.
The programme was completed with Solo Resources, Maelgwyn Mineral Services and SGS South Africa using ten samples, and the 50 tpd plant is under construction with commissioning imminent.
