OzAurum Resources (ASX:OZM) is a series of progressing feasibility studies at the Mulgabbie North Gold Project in Western Australia, with recent metallurgical testwork confirming percolation flow rates well above industry benchmarks.
The company says the results are reinforcing the project’s potential for a low-cost, scalable heap-leach operation.
At the James prospect, 34 out of 55 percolation tests averaged 59,900 litres per hour to m2. These results exceed the industry benchmark of 10,000 L/hr/m2, supporting low-risk processing.
With further testwork underway and key assays pending, OzAurum is advancing toward defining a stage one starter operation that could unlock near-term gold production in Western Australia.
Stage one heap leach design works and tonnage will be based on the Department of Mines, Petroleum and Exploration expedited permitting requirements with all infrastructure requirements being less than 10 hectares.
Meanwhile, stage two and three heap leach design works are based on a 2 million tonne heap leach facility located on M28/240.
CEO Andrew Pumphrey says with this technical milestone achieved, the company is focusing on column testwork which will provide key data on gold recoveries and further de-risk the project’s development.
“In parallel, we are eagerly awaiting the assay results from our latest 10-hole reverse circulation drill program at Mulgabbie North, which aims to define the near-surface high-grade zone and support early-stage heap-leach production opportunities,” Pumphrey says.
Further, a diamond rig has been secured to drill a metallurgical hole at the James prospect, which will begin once site access resumes.
OzAurum Resources is a Western Australian explorer focused on gold projects northeast of Kalgoorlie and rare earths in Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: OzAurum Resources
