We worked with SGS Labs in 2018 to create an Early Stage Metallurgical (ESME) test that was cost effective and would give our clients a deeper and clearer understanding of their project geology.
Samples of drill core or surface rock samples are run through several tests at the lab to provide a suite of information. This includes:
ESME tests can be undertaken at any stage of an exploration project, but we have found it is a great tool to use early on (i.e. in year one or two) to consolidate understanding.
ESME has produced many benefits for clients and geologists alike:
ESME is a cost effective solution that has been designed to fit within budgets of early stage exploration projects.
Studies can be completed using around 20 kilogram of sample This can be from outcrop, combined drill core or blended coarse reject material.
Depending on demand and time of year, testing usually is completed in 4 to 6 weeks.
Hive collected samples from two sites on the Merit Property, a project site in southern British Columbia and part of Independence Golds’ portfolio.
We had encountered high grades from these veins – up to 9.5g/t gold – during reconnaissance mapping. These were obvious targets for future drilling, but the formation of these veins was poorly understood, as well as the occurrence of the gold because the veins were largely devoid of sulphides.
Material was collected from the veins and sent to SGS Labs for processing. ESME showed that although the veins appeared devoid of sulphides, during gravity separation it became apparent that there was a range of minerals such as chalcopyrite and arsenopyrite which were significant. Gold existed in its native state, or blended with silver to produce electrum. Silver was also present as acanthite or with a range of telluride minerals. None of these identifications would have been possible in the field due to the extremely fine nature of the minerals.
Metallurgical testing comprised of gravity separation, flotation and then a final cyanide “bottle roll” leach test. The end result was that 99.5% of the gold and 95.1% of the silver was recoverable using these methods.
For the client this gave them assurance that should exploration continue and develop a resource, the gold was recoverable and that exploration expenditures were valid and warranted. Investors, shareholders and permitting agents appreciate these studies as it helped to de-risk future work programs. Understanding the associated mineralogy has allowed geologists to target using pathfinder elements in soil and other surface samples. As this was all completed in the first year on the property, the results from this ESME study will have a major bearing on how subsequent exploration work will be undertaken.
