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Rox testing delivers high gold recoveries from its Youanmi project
Mining
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Special Report: Rox has more cause to celebrate after metallurgical testing delivered high gold recoveries from across its Youanmi gold project in Western Australia.
The testing of 81 samples covering a range of gold grades, mineralisation styles and degree of weathering, confirms that the Youanmi project is amenable to conventional cyanide extraction methods.
Rox Resources (ASX:RXL) singled out the results from its potentially game-changing Grace prospect, saying that it was exceptionally encouraging with gold recoveries averaging 97 per cent, 94 per cent and 95 per cent from the oxide, transitional and fresh zones respectively.
The result is in line with expectations given the abundant visible gold observed in the reverse circulation drilling samples, Rox says.
Grace has returned some notable results such as 25m grading 34.79 grams per tonne (g/t) gold from 143m including 6m at 140.7g/t from 150m, and 4m at 88.81g/t gold from 27m including 2m at 176.03g/t gold from 28m.
Managing director Alex Passmore says the results are pleasing as the main lode ore body at Youanmi that was mined historically was renowned for being refractory — finely disseminated gold that is hard to process – at depth.
“This first-pass metallurgical test work demonstrates that different primary mineralisation styles within the Youanmi project area such as the granite-hosted gold at Grace are clearly non-refractory, delivering excellent recoveries with conventional methods,” he explained.
The news is certainly welcome for Rox as it highlights the potential of the Youanmi project to be a highly prospective area with non-refractory mineralisation outside the historical mine area.
Other notable results from the test work include gold recoveries averaging 94 per cent from the Plant Zone, where drilling has not yet tested the deeper transitional and primary ores; and 93 per cent from the transitional zone at the Youanmi South prospect.
Further metallurgical test work is ongoing while drilling is continuing at the Grace prospect with two reverse circulation drill rigs on site.
The results will feed into Rox’s ongoing exploration approach and broader understanding of the Youanmi project area.
The company recently increased its stake in the Youanmi OYG joint venture, which includes the historical Youanmi mining centre and the Grace prospect, to 70 per cent.
