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Sanankoro project test work results in positive results

25th June 2020

By: Donna Slater

Features Deputy Editor and Chief Photographer

     

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West Africa-focused gold company Cora Gold reports positive results from the oxide ore bulk sample test work programme, the test work of which explored the viability for the ore at Cora’s Sanankoro gold project to be concentrated by gravity separation to a level that would be viable to transport.

The programme was completed in conjunction with Aim-listed gold miner Hummingbird Resources. The objective of the programme was to explore the amenability of the oxide ore at the Sanankoro project to be concentrated to a level that could be viable for commercial trucking to Hummingbird’s Yanfolila gold mine, located about 100 km from Sanankoro.

Accordingly, Cora arranged for a 350 kg oxide bulk sample from the Sanankoro project to be shipped to North America for gravity- and sizing-based metallurgical test work at a facility independent of both Hummingbird and Cora. The test work examined a simple, low-cost route to produce this concentrate.

The bulk sample was screened at 37.5 mm and 1.7 mm, with those bigger than the 37.5 mm size fraction then crushed to just below 37.5 mm and re-screened at 1.7 mm. The total smaller than 1.7 mm fraction, which accounted for about 80% of the bulk sample, was passed through a Knelson concentrator and a gravity concentrate extracted.
 
Cora reports that the results are encouraging, with about 57% of the gold reporting to a gravity concentrate, which represents less than 1% of the feed mass.

The resulting gold concentrate, with a grade of over 70 g/t gold, could be economic to transport long distances, according to the miner. The programme focused on just a single pass through a centrifugal concentrator and it is expected that further work could enhance the crush size and result in further improved recovery to the concentrate and potentially higher grades.

The coarser size fraction (smaller than 37.5 mm and greater than 1.7 mm), which accounts for about 20% of the bulk sample, was used for a kinetic cyanide bottle roll test carried out to simulate heap leach conditions. Cora notes that this also produced encouraging results with gold extraction being about 75% after 96 hours, with the leach curve still rising, suggesting gold recovery rates could increase with more time.

Cora CEO Bert Monro says the results suggest that a streamlined process flow sheet incorporating gravity concentration and the trucking of a high grade concentrate to an existing mine in the region could be run in parallel with a smaller on-site heap leach project treating the residual coarser size fraction. 

“These initial results suggest this could be a viable alternative route for us, potentially providing a lower capital expenditure and faster route to cash flow for the company.”

In parallel, he adds that Cora commenced further metallurgical test work earlier in June to build on the work completed for the Sanankoro scoping study published in January.

“This is focused on taking the metallurgical results to a prefeasibility study standard.”

As part of this programme, the company is also continuing further test work on gravity concentration, with Cora expecting to report on these results during the third quarter of the year.

“We remain focussed on delivering a standalone mining operation at Sanankoro and signed last week a project financing term sheet for $21-million to support this plan,” says Monro.

Meanwhile, Cora also reports that although the Sanankoro exploration permit expired on February 1, in accordance with Mali's Mining Code, the company submitted an application for the award of a new permit over the area covered by the Sanankoro permit.

The company looks forward to announcing the award of a new permit in due course once the necessary process set out in the Mining Code has occurred.

The Sanankoro Permit is one of five permits that together comprise the Sanankoro gold project area.

Edited by Chanel de Bruyn
Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor Online

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