TG Metals Achieves 88% Gold Recovery in 35 Days at Van Uden Laterite

Rapid Heap Leach Results Signal Near-Term Cashflow Potential

TG Metals Limited (ASX:TG6) has unveiled metallurgical testwork results from its Van Uden Gold Project in Western Australia that could reshape the project’s development trajectory. Column leach testing on Laterite gold mineralisation has delivered an impressive 88% gold recovery after just 35 days of leaching on samples crushed to a coarse 25mm size. These rapid extraction rates suggest a viable heap leach operation could unlock substantial near-term cashflow from the surface Laterite resource, which totals approximately 1.05 million tonnes at 0.52 g/t Au for 17,700 ounces.

The company’s CEO David Selfe emphasised the significance of these outcomes, noting the low-risk nature of heap leaching and the operational simplicity of mining free-digging, surface ore. “The Laterite is at surface, so requires no pre-stripping, minimal handling and a potential onsite facility means no transport costs,” Selfe said. This combination underpins expectations for very low capital and operating costs, which could accelerate project economics and reduce upfront funding requirements.

Heap Leach Advantages and Resource Context

Heap leaching is well suited to the Van Uden Laterite given its physical characteristics and location. The ore’s pisolitic structure allows effective cyanide penetration, confirmed by a low residue grade and high gold exposure in testwork. Agglomeration was achieved with just 15 kg/tonne cement addition, and the preferred 25mm crush size outperformed finer crushes, indicating gold is primarily external to the pisolites.

Importantly, the heap leach process tolerates lower cut-off grades than conventional carbon-in-leach (CIL) plants, enabling the exploitation of the entire Laterite resource, including lower grade zones. This contrasts with higher grade Laterite material (12,496 tonnes at 2.55 g/t Au) that is earmarked for toll milling offsite. The current Laterite resource is predominantly in the Indicated category, providing a robust foundation for mine planning and design.

Beyond the Laterite, TG Metals is investigating the transition material beneath it, which comprises 1.85 million tonnes at 1.05 g/t Au for 62,400 ounces. The company expects this transitional zone to be amenable to heap leaching as well, pending ongoing metallurgical testwork. This could further extend the heap leach opportunity and enhance project scale.

Infrastructure and Regulatory Pathway Support Swift Development

The Van Uden site benefits from established infrastructure including an all-weather haul road, water bore, and site facilities, which supports rapid project advancement. TG Metals plans to lodge a Mining Proposal under Western Australia’s Eligible Mining Activity (EMA) rapid approval framework, targeting a 46-day approval timeline for low-risk operations such as heap leach pad construction and Laterite mining. The Laterite deposits lie within granted Mining Leases, further de-risking tenure.

This regulatory pathway aligns with the company’s timeline to complete engineering and design studies by Q2 2026 and make a Final Investment Decision in Q3. The rapid approval framework could prove pivotal in accelerating the transition from testwork to production.

Ongoing Testwork and Project Advancement Plans

Three column leach tests remain underway, with all showing continuing gold extraction beyond the initial 35-day results. The full leach cycle is expected to last up to 90 days but may conclude earlier due to rapid recoveries. Final recoveries and operational parameters such as reagent and water use will be refined from these results.

Further optimisation work is planned to reduce reagent consumption and operating costs, alongside grade control drilling to support pit design. Heap leach testwork on transition material and other mineralisation types at Van Uden will also commence, broadening the project’s processing options.

The recent resource upgrade at Van Uden, which boosted Indicated ounces by over 120%, provides a stronger resource base to underpin these developments. The combination of expanding resources and promising metallurgical results positions Van Uden for accelerated project advancement and potential early-stage production cashflow, a notable shift for TG Metals after years of exploration and resource definition.

These developments build on the company’s recent Indicated gold resource increase and mineral resource upgrade that have expanded the project’s footprint and resource confidence, setting the stage for commercialisation of the heap leach opportunity.