Sun Silver Limited reports exceptional metallurgical test results from its Maverick Springs project in Nevada, highlighting strong silver and gold recoveries that support a low-cost heap leach development pathway.
- Silver recoveries up to 78.3% and gold up to 77.3% in heap leach simulation tests
- Fine grind cyanide leach tests show silver recoveries up to 90% and gold up to 84.7%
- Ore confirmed as non-refractory and non-preg robbing, suitable for conventional processing
- Potential to enhance recoveries through reverse osmosis water treatment
- Plans underway for column leach tests and a Scoping Study in 2026
Exceptional Metallurgical Performance
Sun Silver Limited (ASX: SS1) has announced a significant milestone for its Maverick Springs Silver-Gold Project in Nevada, USA, with metallurgical test work revealing high recoveries of both silver and gold. Intermittent Bottle Roll (IBR) tests, which simulate heap leach conditions on coarse-crushed ore, achieved silver recoveries averaging 77% and gold recoveries averaging 74%. These results are particularly encouraging given the early-stage nature of the testing.
Complementing the IBR tests, cyanide leach tests on finely ground samples demonstrated even stronger recoveries, with silver reaching up to 90% and gold up to 84.7%. This robust performance across different processing scenarios underscores the potential for Maverick Springs to adopt a low capital, scalable heap leach development pathway.
Ore Characteristics and Processing Implications
Independent Metallurgical Operations (IMO), a subsidiary of SGS, managed the test work and confirmed that the ore is non-refractory and non-preg robbing. This means the silver and gold are readily extractable using conventional cyanide leaching methods without significant losses due to mineralogical complications. Such characteristics simplify processing and reduce technical risks, which is a positive indicator for project economics.
Sun Silver’s Managing Director, Andrew Dornan, highlighted the importance of these findings, stating that the results “provide a de-risked, low-capital, scalable heap leach pathway and represent a real catalyst for advancing the project.” The company is optimistic that these metallurgical outcomes will translate into a more straightforward and cost-effective development.
Innovative Opportunities and Next Steps
One intriguing aspect of the announcement is the potential to further improve recoveries by reducing chlorides in process water through reverse osmosis (RO). Nevada’s water contains chlorides that can negatively impact leaching efficiency, and RO treatment could remove up to 99% of these salts. While RO is common in industrial water treatment, its application in heap leach operations is less frequent, presenting a novel opportunity for Maverick Springs to enhance metal recoveries.
Looking ahead, Sun Silver plans to conduct column leach tests that simulate heap leaching at scale, which will provide more definitive data on recovery rates and operational parameters. Additionally, the company is progressing internal studies and aims to deliver a Scoping Study or Preliminary Economic Assessment later in 2026, marking a critical step towards project development.
Project Scale and Regional Context
The Maverick Springs project hosts a substantial inferred mineral resource of 237 million tonnes grading 45.5 grams per tonne silver and 0.30 grams per tonne gold, equating to 347.2 million ounces of silver and 2.25 million ounces of gold. Situated near the prolific Carlin Trend and close to established operations like Barrick’s Carlin Mine, Maverick Springs benefits from a world-class mining jurisdiction with strong infrastructure and regulatory support.
These metallurgical results, combined with the project’s scale and location, position Sun Silver well to advance Maverick Springs as a competitive silver-gold development with a potentially low-cost, scalable processing route.
Bottom Line?
Sun Silver’s metallurgical breakthroughs at Maverick Springs set the stage for a compelling low-cost development, but upcoming scale-up tests will be key to confirming commercial viability.
Questions in the middle?
- How will the upcoming column leach tests refine recovery estimates and operational parameters?
- What are the economic implications and costs associated with implementing reverse osmosis water treatment?
- How might these metallurgical results influence the timing and scope of Sun Silver’s planned Scoping Study?