Odyssey Gold Reports 95.9% Recovery from Tuckanarra Starter Pit

High Gold Recovery Validates Early Mining Prospects at Cable

Odyssey Gold Limited (ASX:ODY) has reported metallurgical test results from a composite sample representing weathered material from a shallow starter pit at its Cable deposit within the Tuckanarra Gold Project. The standout figure is a peak gold leach recovery of 95.9% achieved in just eight hours, accompanied by low reagent consumption; cyanide at 0.37kg/t and lime at 2.65kg/t. These metrics reinforce the economic potential of mining shallow oxide pits early under the project’s existing Mining Proposal.

The composite sample, weighing 44kg and designed to reflect the average lithology and grade (~1.4g/t Au) of the starter pit, also delivered an 18.8% gravity gold recovery. This combination of rapid leach kinetics and effective gravity recovery suggests a favourable processing profile for the oxide mineralisation, which is increasingly rare in Western Australia’s goldfields. The results come as Odyssey advances its scoping study and resource development plans.

Bond Work Index Raises Questions on Comminution Energy

The metallurgical tests revealed a Bond Work Index (BWi) of 20.9 kWh/tonne, notably higher than anticipated for this oxide-dominant composite. The elevated BWi indicates potentially greater energy requirements for grinding, which could impact processing costs. Odyssey is conducting follow-up testwork on the main fresh lithologies; pisolite, ferruginous laterite, and ferricrete; to clarify this finding and refine comminution parameters.

Such variability in grindability is not uncommon in polymetallic oxide and transitional ores, but the higher BWi warrants close attention as it will feed into the economics of the planned starter pit and broader project development. The presence of coarse gold was also noted, contributing to some grade variability between fire assay and calculated head grades.

Cable Deposit and Tuckanarra Resource Base

The Cable deposit, the largest at Tuckanarra, holds a current Mineral Resource Estimate (MRE) of 1.69 million tonnes at 2.3g/t gold for 123,000 ounces. The broader Tuckanarra Project boasts a total MRE of 5.14 million tonnes at 2.5g/t for 407,000 ounces, including a high-grade subset of 2.25 million tonnes at 3.9g/t for 283,000 ounces. These resources lie within two kilometres of the Great Northern Highway and near substantial processing infrastructure, with over 13Mtpa capacity within 250km.

Odyssey’s ongoing drilling and resource infill programs aim to upgrade inferred resources and extend mineralisation, building on the promising metallurgical profile of oxide material. The company is actively engaging with local processing plant owners and potential mining partners to explore low-cost development pathways. This strategy aligns with the positive indications from recent metallurgical work and the company’s broader technical studies.

Metallurgical Testwork in Context of Project Development

This latest metallurgical testwork complements earlier drilling and assay results that have highlighted strong grades and continuity at Tuckanarra. For instance, recent RC and diamond drilling have revealed extensions to mineralisation at Cable and other deposits, underpinning resource growth and supporting the mining technical studies underway. The rapid gold recovery and low reagent consumption reported here echo findings from previous testwork programs, reinforcing the project’s processing amenability.

However, the unexpectedly high Bond Work Index introduces an element of uncertainty that Odyssey is addressing with further targeted testwork. The company’s Executive Director, Matt Syme, emphasised that the next round of metallurgical studies will expand understanding of both shallow starter pits and deeper resources, feeding into the upcoming scoping study and mining evaluations.

These developments follow a series of announcements detailing Odyssey’s efforts to refine resource models and advance project financing, including a recent $9 million capital raise to accelerate development. The combination of solid metallurgical performance and expanding resource definition positions Tuckanarra as a potentially attractive near-term gold development in a prolific region.

Technical Details and Sampling Integrity

The metallurgical composite was compiled from carefully selected samples representing the expected lithological mix of the starter pit, including duricrust, pisolitic gravels, ferruginous laterite, oxidised sediment, and quartz veining. Testing was conducted by ALS Metallurgical Laboratories under expert supervision, employing gravity separation followed by intensive cyanide leaching with controlled pH and dissolved oxygen levels. The use of representative process water from a local plant adds practical relevance to the results.

Deleterious elements were found to be within acceptable limits or below detection, suggesting no major processing complications from contaminants. The sample preparation and assay techniques, including Photon Assay and fire assay confirmation, followed industry standards and were designed to mitigate the effects of coarse gold and sampling bias.

Given the proximity of the Cable deposit to historic pits and recent drilling campaigns, these metallurgical insights provide a valuable update on the project’s near-surface oxide potential. The findings also dovetail with the company’s broader exploration and resource upgrade activities, such as the promising assay results from metallurgical drillholes and strong new drilling results extending mineralisation reported earlier this year.