As part of the Company's first year exploration program at Flat, metallurgical samples were selected by Tectonic from historically drilled diamond core determined to be representative of the known drilled mineralization and five composites comprising of four oxide and one fresh sulphide were formed. The composites were then subject to conventional bottle roll, gravity, combined gravity and bottle roll and flotation metallurgical test work with the goal of de-risking the project and to provide insight into what metallurgical processing methods might be ideal. The metallurgical results from the five composites returned gold recoveries averaging 95.6%, with one test returning a high of 99.1%, all with conventional cyanide leaching (bottle roll) of 75-microm material. These exceptional results prompted Tectonic to conduct a follow-up bottle roll test at a coarser crush (6 mesh, 3360 -microm), which potentially can be used as a proxy for heap leaching, and an average gold recovery of 88.5% was achieved with four of the five composites returning an average gold recovery of 94.0% and a high of 96.8%. The metallurgical results also demonstrate that the mineralization presently known at Flat is not grind sensitive, is extremely low in sulphur, non preg robbing and favourable to various gold extraction methods. The success of Tectonic' metallurgical program warrants investigating column leach testing as a next step to determine if the mineralization at Flat is amenable to heap leaching.
Metallurgical Highlights
Conventional bottle roll tests with 48-hour leach kinetics of material ground to a K80 of 75 -microm yields an average gold recovery of 95.6% with a range of 88.3% to 99.1%
Conventional gravity + bottle roll tests with 48-hour leach kinetics of material ground to a K80 of 75-microm yield an average gold recovery of 97.2% and a high of 98.7% across the 5 composites. The fresh sulphide composite yielded a highly favourable gold recovery of 94.7%
Given the initial favourable results, Tectonic then elected to do a coarser crush (6 mesh coarse crush, K100 of 3360-microm) bottle roll test on all five composites with leach kinetics over a 192-hour period as a proxy for heap leach amenability ahead of future column leach testing. Bottle roll testing on this coarser crush material achieved an average gold recovery of 88.5% with 4 of the 5 composites averaging 94.0% at 3360-microm vs 97.5% at 75-microm indicating the majority of the tested material is not grind sensitive
Strong and rapid leach kinetics demonstrated throughout the various metallurgical tests
Very low cyanide consumption with an average of 0.22 kg/t for both the 75-microm bottle and 3360-microm coarse bottle rolls tests
Low sulphur content with 4 of 5 composites averaging 0.02% and 0.06% in the fifth composite
No preg robbing identified
The various metallurgical tests and their positive results indicate that Tectonic may have several metallurgical processing options available at Flat
Flat Metallurgical Program - Composites
Tectonic's Metallurgical Test Work Program focused on Flat's primary target known as the
In total 5 composites were created from historic drill core samples taken from representative examples of mineralization from various intrusive phases, alteration assemblages and oxidation profiles within the two main historically drilled areas on
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Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
Certain information in this news release constitutes forward-looking information and statements under applicable securities law. Any statements that are contained in this news release that are not statements of historical fact may be deemed to be forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as 'may', 'should', 'anticipate', 'expect', 'intend' and similar expressions.
Forward-looking information is not a guarantee of future performance and is based upon a number of estimates and assumptions of management at the date the statements are made including, among others, assumptions about future prices of gold and other metal prices, currency exchange rates and interest rates, favourable operating conditions, political stability, obtaining governmental and other approvals and financing on time, obtaining required licenses and permits, labour stability, stability in market conditions, availability of equipment, accuracy of any mineral resources, successful resolution of disputes and anticipated costs and expenditures. Many assumptions are based on factors and events that are not within the control of Tectonic, and there is no assurance they will prove to be correct.
Although Tectonic considers these beliefs and assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect, and the forward-looking statements in this release are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause future results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements necessarily involve known and unknown risks, including, without limitation: the Company's ability to implement its business strategies; risks associated with mineral exploration and production; risks associated with general economic conditions; adverse industry events; marketing and transportation costs; loss of markets; volatility of commodity prices; inability to access sufficient capital from internal and external sources, and/or inability to access sufficient capital on favourable terms; industry and government regulation; changes in legislation, income tax and regulatory matters; competition; currency and interest rate fluctuations and other risks.
Readers are further cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions, or expectations upon which they are placed will occur. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. Although Tectonic has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such information will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Tectonic does not undertake to update any forward-looking information, except in accordance with applicable securities laws.
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