Mechanical Sorting Yields Gold-Rich Concentrates at Karratha; Egina Terrace Gravel Returns Positive Gold Result
December 20 2018 - 7:00AM
Novo Resources Corp. (“
Novo” or
the “
Company”) (TSX-V: NVO; OTCQX: NSRPF) is
pleased to announce gold-rich assay results from concentrates
generated by mechanical sorting trials conducted on four bulk
samples from its Karratha gold project and encouraging gold
recovery from its first terrace gravel bulk sample at Egina.
Karratha mechanical sorting trial yields
gold-rich concentrates:
In order to test the potential viability of
mechanical rock sorting as a means of concentrating gold from
conglomerates at Novo’s Karratha gold project, four bulk samples
were collected, crushed, screened and tested using a TOMRA
mechanical rock sorter (for further details, please refer to the
Company’s news release dated November 19, 2018). High-grade assays
from sorted rock concentrates provide a first indication that this
technique is effective at upgrading gold into small volume
concentrates (Table 1, below).
- Mechanical sorting was conducted on
material ranging from 6 to 63 mm (10 to 63 mm for sample KX237.
Fractions larger than 63 mm and finer than 6 mm are currently
undergoing assaying. Once all analyses have returned, an assessment
of the effectiveness of mechanical rock sorting will be made.
- Mechanical rock sorted concentrates
range from 0.07-0.48% of total sample mass, a remarkably small
fraction. Given the high-grade assays of these concentrates,
ranging from 92.1-792.4 gpt Au, it appears that gold is being
significantly upgraded by mechanical rock sorting.
- Optimizing crushing to reduce
volumes of fines and oversize, effectively maximizing the amount of
material being sorted, should further improve the potential of this
technology.
- Novo believes mechanical sorting
technology could be a critical component of the Karratha gold
project moving forward.
“Concentrate grades received from the recent
Tomra mechanical rock sorting trials are impressive, reflecting the
capability of the scanning and sorting technology to differentially
select gold bearing rock,” commented Mr. Rob Humphryson, CEO and
Director of the Company. “Total system gold recovery efficiency
will be fully understood upon receipt of assay results from all
process streams and feed size ranges, with these results expected
during January 2019.”
Table 1: Assays of concentrates from
TOMRA mechanical sorting trials conducted on bulk samples of
Karratha gold-bearing conglomerate |
SampleID |
Mass(kg) |
Size Fraction |
SizeFractionas % ofTotalMass |
Mass ofSorterConcentrate(kg) |
Mass ofSorterConcentrateas % of TotalMass |
Gold Gradeof SorterConcentrate(gpt) |
KX234 |
5610.6 |
greater than 63 mm |
2.2% |
|
|
|
6 to 63 mm |
67.8% |
13.5 |
0.24% |
792.4 |
less than 6 mm |
30.0% |
|
|
|
KX235 |
3989.8 |
greater than 63 mm |
19.2% |
|
|
|
6 to 63 mm |
64.8% |
19.1 |
0.48% |
188.8 |
less than 6 mm |
16.0% |
|
|
|
KX236 |
4229.1 |
greater than 63 mm |
9.7% |
|
|
|
6 to 63 mm |
61.3% |
13.0 |
0.31% |
92.1 |
less than 6 mm |
29.0% |
|
|
|
KX237 |
4434.0 |
greater than 63 mm |
9.2% |
|
|
|
10 to 63 mm |
41.6% |
3.2 |
0.07% |
377.8 |
less than 10 mm |
49.2% |
|
|
|
Size fractions in italics are too coarse or too fine to be
sorted. Once these have been assayed, the overall performance of
mechanical sorting can be evaluated. |
Egina terrace gravel bulk sample
returns encouraging gold recovery:
Novo recently completed processing its first
bulk sample of terrace lag gravels at its new Egina gold project.
As discussed in the Company’s news release dated December 13, 2018,
approximately 95 cubic metres of pristine lag gravel (density
approximately 1.6 tonnes per cubic metre) were excavated from an
area in the northeast part of mining lease M47/560. The sample was
transported to nearby Station Peak camp for treatment through the
Company’s IGR3000 gravity gold plant (Figure 1). The IGR3000
utilizes Falcon centrifugal concentrators to capture fine and
medium sized gold particles and a discharge sluice to capture large
nuggets. Multiple fractions of gold generated from this sample are
illustrated in Figure 2.
- A total of 107.88 grams of raw gold
were recovered from 95 cubic metres of gravel. Fine gold and small
nuggets recovered by Falcon concentrators account for 18.55 grams
of the total. A further 49.16 grams were captured in the discharge
sluice. One large nugget weighing 40.17 grams was recovered from
the oversize pile using a metal detector. X-ray fluorescence
analysis of gold nuggets indicates gold purities ranging from
91-93% with silver making up most of the balance.
- Assays of tailings are in
process.
- Dominantly coarse gold suggests
simple processing techniques can likely be employed during
potential future large-scale gold recovery at Egina.
- Very little clay is present
resulting in short scrubbing times and short settling times to
clarify return water.
- Novo plans an aggressive program of
collecting and treating similar-sized bulk samples in 2019 with the
intent of establishing a first ever resource at Egina. Novo also
has plans for large-scale test sampling. As described in the
Company’s news release dated October 30, 2018, Novo thinks lag
gravels mantling the vast erosional terrace at Egina could host a
significant gold deposit. The shallow nature of these gravels makes
them a particularly attractive target.
“The results of our first bulk sample at Egina
are very encouraging,” commented Mr. Rob Humphryson, CEO and
Director of the Company. “This 95 cubic metre sample was collected
from a gravel horizon between 1m and 3m below surface, requiring no
drilling, blasting or crushing. The current geologic model has not
constrained the gravel horizon in any direction or for any distance
across the erosional terrace. In addition to ongoing bulk sampling
during 2019 to confirm gold concentrations on a broader scale,
exploration field work will be directed towards understanding the
lateral extent and continuity of the system. We are very excited
about the possibility for this system to be laterally expansive,
with obvious connotations for a future large scale and low cost
mining operation”
The initial mineral sorting concentrates have
been analyzed via Photon assay and are subject to QA/QC and other
assay techniques that are currently being performed by
MinAnalytical Laboratory Services Australia in Perth,
Australia.
PhotonAssay provides a non-destructive
chemistry-free approach to gold assay. It bombards samples with
high-energy X-rays, causing short-lived excitation of atomic
nuclei of targeted elements (e.g., gold). These excited nuclei
give off a characteristic signature that can be detected and used
to calculate concentration. The analysis is completely
non-destructive, and all samples have been retained for further
analysis.
Dr. Quinton Hennigh, P. Geo., the Company’s,
President and Chairman and a qualified person as defined by
National Instrument 43-101, has approved the geological content of
this news release.
About Novo Resources Corp.
Novo’s focus is to explore and develop gold
projects in the Pilbara region of Western Australia, and Novo has
built up a significant land package covering approximately 12,000
sq km with varying ownership interests. For more information,
please contact Leo Karabelas at (416) 543-3120 or
e-mail leo@novoresources.com
On Behalf of the Board of Directors,
Novo Resources Corp.
“Quinton Hennigh”Quinton Hennigh President and
Chairman
Neither 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.
Forward-looking information
Some statements in this news release contain forward-looking
information (within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation)
including, without limitation, statements as to planned exploration
activities and the expected timing of the receipt of results. These
statements address future events and conditions and, as such,
involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors
which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements to
be materially different from any future results, performance or
achievements expressed or implied by the statements. Such factors
include, without limitation, customary risks of the mineral
resource industry as well as the performance of services by third
parties.
PDFs accompanying this announcement are
available at:
http://resource.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/570fac23-47fc-409f-bcb8-111c1be1adbb
http://resource.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/9c71fdb9-684e-472d-be01-879939b38166
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