Western Exploration Inc. (TSXV: WEX; OTCQX: WEXPF) (the
"Company" or "Western Exploration") is pleased to
announce the results from its ongoing metallurgical heap leach test
program designed to determine the processing characteristics at
Doby George. Bottle roll recoveries from the various crush sizes
sampled returned positive results that will form the basis for
compositing mineralization for additional column leach test work at
Doby George.
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Figure 1. Plan view map showing location
of Doby George drill holes for composite bottle roll results listed
in Table 1, and highlighting assays reported in Western
Exploration's news releases dated, October 26, 2022, December 8,
2022 and January 17, 2023. (Graphic: Business Wire)
Highlights:
- Agitated cyanidation bottle roll test work was completed on 46
composites generated from samples collected during the 2022 PQ
drill program completed in 2022 (refer to Table 1 and Figure 2 for
detailed test results).
- The composites ranged in grade from 0.17 g/t Au to 9.38 g/t Au
and averaged 2.36 g/t Au and cyanide soluble gold-to-fire assay
ratios (CN/FA) were generally above 80% (see news release of
January 17, 2023).
- Average gold extraction of oxide mineralization of 69.3% from
the agitated cyanidation bottle roll leach test work.
- The oxide composites generally did not contain detectable
sulfur and composites from West Ridge Deep (Mixed) only contained
approximately 0.07% to 0.2% sulfide sulfur.
- Reagent consumption was consistently low and is expected to be
low for commercial heap leaching, averaging 0.12 kg/ton for cyanide
and 0.9 kg/ton for lime.
Western Exploration CEO, Darcy Marud, commented: "It's an
exciting time for the Doby George deposit following our exploration
success in 2022. In 2022, the exploration team drilled nine holes
with the goal of further delineating and advancing the existing
mineral resource at the Aura Project. Doby George hosts 407k Gold
ounces in the indicated category (12.9k tonnes at 0.98 g/t) and
119k Gold ozs in the inferred category (4.99k tonnes at 0.73
g/t).
"The metallurgical test results that support heap leach gold
recoveries of approximately 70% are in line with the extensive
historical exploration and metallurgical test results generated by
previous owners of the deposit, including Atlas Corporation,
Homestake Mining Company and Independence Mining Company. It is
anticipated that the results of the metallurgical heap leach test
program will be used to support the preparation of a
Pre-Feasibility Study on the Doby George deposit in 2024, pursuant
to which the Company expects to update its existing mineral
resource estimate and underline potentially robust project
economics supported by surface outcrops and the recent
metallurgical test results. Doby George is a very exciting resource
for Western Exploration and we still have extensive exploration
upside on the property, particularly at Gravel Creek where our 2023
drill program is focused."
Table 1. Summary Results of Bottle Roll
Tests at Doby George Variability Composites(1)
Number of Composites
Average Reagent
Drill
Au Recovery %
Head Grade, gAu/mt
Consumed, kg/mt
Description
Holes
Average
Min.
Max.
Average
Min.
Max.
NaCN
Lime
West Ridge Oxide
DGC789
8
76.0
50.0
85.4
2.36
0.12
6.36
0.14
0.7
DGC790
7
68.1
50.4
76.1
2.48
1.25
4.05
0.12
0.6
DGC791
13
70.3
60.0
84.3
2.03
0.50
4.27
0.11
0.6
All
28
71.4
50.0
85.4
2.24
0.12
6.36
0.12
0.6
West Ridge Deep Oxide
DGC796
1
68.2
68.2
68.2
1.57
1.57
1.57
0.12
0.6
West Ridge Deep Mixed
DGC796
2
16.7
1.4
31.9
2.06
1.39
2.73
0.20
0.6
Daylight Oxide
DGC792
5
69.3
35.0
85.8
2.58
0.61
5.20
0.10
1.8
DGC793
4
54.5
20.5
81.6
1.30
0.44
2.34
0.12
1.7
All
9
62.7
20.5
85.8
2.01
0.44
5.20
0.11
1.7
Twilight Oxide Mixed
DGC794
3
66.9
60.5
77.4
5.40
2.28
9.38
0.11
1.1
DGC795
3
71.8
63.8
82.1
1.47
0.56
2.29
0.10
0.9
All
6
69.3
60.5
82.1
3.43
0.56
9.38
0.11
1.0
All Composites
All
46
67.0
1.4
85.8
2.33
0.12
9.38
0.12
0.9
Note: (1)
Bottle roll cyanide leach test was conducted on each composite
at an 80% - 1.7 mm feed size, with a 1.0 g/L NaCN concentration and
a 4 day leach cycle.
The Doby George variability composites were amenable to agitated
cyanidation treatment at the 80% - 1.7mm feed size, indicating good
potential for heap leach processing. The highest gold recoveries of
over 70% were obtained from the West Ridge oxide composites. Gold
recoveries from the Twilight oxide and mixed composites were more
variable, but on average were similar to those from the West Ridge
oxides. Gold recoveries from the Daylight oxide composites
generally were lower, at an average of approximately 62.7% in gold
recoveries. The two West Ridge-Deep mixed mineralization composites
gave low gold recoveries (<32.0%). Organic (non-carbonate)
carbon content was low (0.08% average) and was not correlated to
gold recovery.
Gold recoveries obtained from the West Ridge Oxide samples from
drill holes DGC789, 790 and 791 ranged from 50.0% to 85.4% and
averaged 71.4%. Only 4 of the 28 composites gave gold recoveries
below 65%. A single West Ridge-Deep oxide composite (hole DGC796)
was tested. Gold recovery from that composite (68.2%) was
comparable to the other oxide composites. [The two mixed composites
from the same drill hole gave low recoveries.]
Gold recoveries from the Daylight oxide composites averaged
62.7%. The reasons for the variability in gold recovery for this
material are not yet understood. The composites that gave low gold
recoveries also had relatively low ratios of cyanide soluble
gold-to-fire assay ratios (CN/FA). This data indicates that gold
recoveries from the low recovery Daylight oxide samples may not be
substantially improved by grinding before leaching.
Gold recoveries from the Twilight oxide and mixed composites
were similar. Gold recoveries from the Twilight samples ranged from
60.5% to 82.1% and averaged 69.3%.
Reagent consumptions were consistently low and are expected to
be low for commercial heap leaching. Cyanide and lime consumption
for all tests averaged 0.12 kg/mt and 0.9 kg/mt, respectively.
ABOUT DOBY GEORGE
Doby George is one of the highest-grade, undeveloped open pit
heap leach resources in Nevada and one of three mineral deposits on
Western Exploration's 100% owned Aura Project. The Aura Project is
located 32 kilometers north of the Jerritt Canyon mine, which has
been in continual operation since 1981. The deposit is an
outcropping, high-grade sediment-hosted mineral deposit, with
multiple zones of mineralization identified by drilling in a 1.7 x
0.8 km area (see Figure 7 below). The zone of oxidation extends 150
to 200 meters below surface, while limited deep drilling has
encountered unoxidized gold mineralization at depths of over 600
meters below surface. Additional information about the Aura Project
is included in the technical report titled "2021 Updated Resource
Estimates and Technical Report For the Aura Gold-Silver Project,
Elko County, Nevada" dated October 20, 2021 (with an effective date
of October 14, 2021) (the "Technical Report").
A copy of the Technical Report is available on SEDAR
(www.sedar.com) under Western Exploration's issuer profile.
Homestake Mining Company initially discovered the deposit in the
mid-1980s. Since that time, 836 drill holes have been completed,
totaling 116,355 meters of drilling. This includes 83 drill holes
totaling 23,760 meters that were drilled by Western Exploration LLC
between 1998 and 2022. Metallurgical test work completed on
oxidized material by Homestake Mining Company, Independence Mining
Company, and Atlas Precious Metals Inc., has indicated favorable
metallurgy for standard cyanide heap leach processing. Results from
the previous metallurgical testing completed on 52 bottle rolls and
23 column leach samples indicate that heap leach gold recoveries
approaching seventy percent can be expected via a crush of 1 to 1.5
inches.
In addition to an established mineral resource estimate (as
determined in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 –
Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101")),
the Aura Project has well established infrastructure including
year-round accessibility by highway and county-maintained road and
nearby access to water and electricity (see Figure 4 below).
Western Exploration has exploration, development, and mining rights
on 930 hectares of privately owned fee lands through a mineral
lease agreement with a local landowner and may purchase those fee
lands at any time for the development of Doby George.
The 6,000-hectare Aura Project has identified mineral resources
in three different deposits (Doby George, Gravel Creek and Wood
Gulch), as supported by the Technical Report (see Table 2
below).
Table 2. Updated mineral resource estimates for the Aura Project
(October 21, 2021 Technical Report).
MINERAL RESOURCE ESTIMATE(1)
Indicated
Inferred
Tonnes
Au (g/t)
Au (ozs)
Ag (g/t)
Ag (ozs)
AuEq (g/t)
AuEq (oz.)
Tonnes
Au (g/t)
Au (ozs)
Ag (g/t)
Ag (ozs)
AuEq (g/t)
AuEq (oz.)
Doby George(2)
12,922,000
0.98
407,000
-
-
0.98
407,000
4,999,000
0.73
118,000
-
-
0.73
118,000
Wood Gulch(3)
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
4,359,000
0.66
93,000
5.80
808,000
0.74
104,543
Gravel Creek(4)
1,315,000
4.73
200,000
75.0
3,169,000
5.81
245,271
2,744,000
4.16
367,000
60.20
5,307,000
5.02
442,814
TOTAL
14,237,000
1.33
607,000
75.0
3,169,000
1.43
652,271
12,102,000
1.48
578,000
15.74
6,115,000
1.71
665,357
Notes:
(1)
Au equivalent oz assumes US$1,800
per oz Au and 70:1 ratio of Ag:Au.
(2)
Pit constrained 0.2 g/t AuEq
cutoff for oxide, 0.4 g/t Au cutoff for mixed and 1.4 g/t Au cutoff
for unoxidized.
(3)
Pit constrained 0.2 g/t AuEq
cutoff.
(4)
3.0 g/t Au cutoff.
About Western Exploration
Born from a 25-year history of advancing exploration projects in
Nevada as a private company, today Western Exploration is composed
of an experienced team of precious metals experts that aims to lead
Western Exploration to becoming a premiere gold and silver
development company in North America. The Company's principal asset
is the 100% owned Aura gold-silver project, located approximately
120 kilometers/75 miles north of the city of Elko, Nevada, and
includes three unique gold and silver deposits: Doby George, Gravel
Creek, and Wood Gulch. Additional information regarding Western
Exploration and the Aura Project can be found on the Company's
website and on SEDAR (www.sedar.com) under the Company's issuer
profile.
Test Procedure, Sample Preparation, and Quality
Assurance
All samples were prepared and analyzed by McClelland
Laboratories Inc., Reno, Nevada. Agitated cyanidation bottle roll
tests were conducted on a total of 46 drill core composites from
the Doby-George deposit to obtain preliminary information regarding
heap leach amenability and ore variability. The composites were
prepared from eight PQ drill core holes PQ drill holes (DGC-789
through DGC-796). Composites were selected based on drill hole
location and depth, sample oxidation, lithology, grade and CN/FA
ratio, and each comprised 2.4 – 6.6 meters of continuous drill
core. Most (42 of 46) of the composites represented oxide
mineralization. Four composites (2 each from West Ridge-Deep and
Twilight) represented mixed mineralization.
Direct agitated cyanidation bottle roll tests were conducted on
each of the 46 variability composites at an 80%-1.7mm feed size.
Bottle roll test ore charges were mixed with water to achieve 40%
solids (wt/wt). Natural pulp pHs were measured. Hydrated lime was
added to adjust the pH of the pulps to 11.0 before adding the
cyanide. Sodium cyanide, equivalent to 1.0 g NaCN/L solution, was
added to the alkaline pulps.
Leaching was conducted by rolling the pulps in bottles on the
laboratory rolls for 96 hours. Rolling was suspended briefly after
2, 6, 24, 48, and 72 hours to allow the pulps to settle so samples
of pregnant solution could be taken for gold and silver analysis by
A.A. methods. Pregnant solution volumes were measured and sampled.
Free cyanide concentration and pH were determined for each
pregnant solution. Make-up water, equivalent to that withdrawn,
was added to the pulps. Cyanide concentrations were restored to
initial levels. Lime was added, when necessary, to maintain the
leaching pH at between 10.8 and 11.2. Rolling was then resumed.
After 96 hours, the pulps were filtered to separate liquids and
solids. Final pregnant solution volumes were measured and sampled
for gold and silver analysis. Final pH and cyanide concentrations
were determined. Leached residues were washed, dried, weighed, and
assayed in triplicate to determine residual gold content.
Crushed (2 mm) drill interval samples generated during interval
preparation procedures were used for preparation of the variability
composites. Select interval samples were combined in entirety or
were each blended and split as required to obtain the necessary
weight for preparation of footage weighted composites. Each
composite was stage crushed to 80%-1.7mm (100%-6.3mm) in size. Each
crushed composite was blended and split using a rotary splitter to
obtain 1.0 kg for a bottle roll test and triplicate 0.5 kg samples
for preparation of head assay pulp samples. The 0.5 kg splits were
each pulverized to >95%-106µm and used for generation of head
assay pulps. Each composite was assayed in triplicate using
conventional fire assay fusion procedures to determine gold and
silver content. Each composite was also subjected to a cyanide
shake analysis, carbon and sulfur speciation analyses and a
multi-element ICP scan.
Qualified Person Approval
The scientific and technical content in this news release has
been reviewed and approved by Mark Hawksworth, General Manager of
the Aura Project, and a "qualified person" within the meaning of NI
43-101.
For additional information on the Aura Project, please see the
Technical Report, which has been prepared in accordance with the
requirements of NI 43-101, a copy of which is available on SEDAR
(www.sedar.com) under Western Exploration's issuer profile and on
Western Exploration's corporate website
(www.westernexploration.com).
Cautionary Statements Regarding Estimates of Mineral
Resources
This news release uses the terms measured, indicated and
inferred mineral resources as a relative measure of the level of
confidence in the resource estimate. Readers are cautioned that
mineral resources are not mineral reserves and that the economic
viability of resources that are not mineral reserves has not been
demonstrated. The mineral resource estimate disclosed in this news
release may be materially affected by geology, environmental,
permitting, legal, title, socio-political, marketing or other
relevant issues. The mineral resource estimate is classified in
accordance with the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy and
Petroleum's "CIM Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and
Mineral Reserves" (CIM) incorporated by reference into NI 43-101.
Under NI 43-101, estimates of inferred mineral resources may not
form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies or
economic studies except for preliminary economic assessments.
Readers are cautioned not to assume that further work on the stated
resources will lead to mineral reserves that can be mined
economically.
Inferred mineral resources have a great amount of uncertainty as
to their existence and as to whether they can be mined legally or
economically. On October 31, 2018, the SEC adopted new mining
disclosure rules ("S-K 1300") that are more closely aligned with
current industry and global regulatory practices and standards,
including NI 43-101, although there are some differences in the two
standards. Accordingly, information concerning mineral deposits
contain in this release may not be comparable with information made
public by U.S. companies that report in accordance with S-K
1300.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This news release may contain "forward-looking information" and
"forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the applicable
Canadian and United States securities legislation (collectively,
"forward-looking statements"). These forward-looking statements, by
their nature, require the Company to make certain assumptions and
involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties that could cause
actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied
in such forward-looking statements. Any statement that involves
predictions, expectations, interpretations, beliefs, plans,
projections, objectives, assumptions, future events or performance
(often, but not always, using phrases such as "expects", or "does
not expect", "is expected", "interpreted", "management's view",
"anticipates" or "does not anticipate", "plans", "budget",
"scheduled", "forecasts", "estimates", "potential", "feasibility",
"believes" or "intends" or variations of such words and phrases or
stating that certain actions, events or results "may" or "could",
"would", "might" or "will" be taken to occur or be achieved) are
not statements of historical fact and may be forward-looking
information and are intended to identify forward-looking
information. This news release contains the forward-looking
information pertaining to, among other things: the focus and
results of the bottle roll test program; the accuracy of results
from prior exploration activities conducted at the Aura Project;
the key assumptions, parameters and methods used to estimate the
mineral resource estimate disclosed in this news release; the
prospects, if any, of the Doby George, Wood Gulch and Gravel Creek
mineral deposits; future drilling at the Aura Project; the
significance of historic exploration activities and results; and
the ability to expand the existing mineral resources at the Aura
Project. Such factors include, among others, risks relating to the
ability of exploration activities (including drill results) to
accurately predict mineralization; errors in management's
geological modelling; the ability of Western Exploration to
complete further exploration activities, including drilling;
property and royalty interests in respect of the Aura Project; the
ability of the Company to obtain required approvals; the results of
exploration activities; risks relating to mining activities; the
global economic climate; metal prices; dilution; environmental
risks; and community and non-governmental actions. Although the
forward-looking information contained in this news release is based
upon what management believes, or believed at the time, to be
reasonable assumptions, Western Exploration cannot assure
shareholders and prospective purchasers of securities of the
Company that actual results will be consistent with such
forward-looking information, as there may be other factors that
cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended, and
neither Western Exploration nor any other person assumes
responsibility for the accuracy and completeness of any such
forward-looking information. Western Exploration does not
undertake, and assumes no obligation, to update or revise any such
forward-looking statements or forward-looking information contained
herein to reflect new events or circumstances, except as may be
required by law.
For additional information with respect to these and other
factors and assumptions underlying the forward‐looking statements
and forward-looking information made in this news release
concerning Western Exploration, see the management information
circular dated November 12, 2021, available electronically under
Western Exploration's issuer profile on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). The
forward-looking statements set forth herein concerning Western
Exploration reflect management's expectations as at the date of
this news release and are subject to change after such date.
Western Exploration disclaims any intention or obligation to update
or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of
new information, future events or otherwise, other than as required
by law.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services
Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX
Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this news release. No stock exchange, securities
commission or other regulatory authority has approved or
disapproved the information contained herein.
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20230710780536/en/
Darcy Marud Chief Executive Officer Telephone: (775) 329-8119
Email: dmarud@westernexploration.com
Nichole Cowles Investor Relations Telephone: (775) 240-4172
Email: nicholecowles@westernexploration.com
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