Savannah Goldfields Confirms 71% Gold Recovery at Georgetown Sulphide Deposits

Gold Recovery Performance at Georgetown Sulphide Deposits

Savannah Goldfields Limited (ASX:SVG) has released encouraging metallurgical test results for sulphide gold recovery from its Electric Light and Red Dam deposits, part of the Georgetown Gold Project in Queensland. The recent test work, conducted on diamond drill core samples, demonstrates that approximately 71.6% and 70.7% of gold can be recovered from Electric Light and Red Dam sulphides respectively using gravity and cyanidation processes through the existing Georgetown Gold Processing Plant (GGPP) without requiring any modifications.

The gravity gold recovery accounted for 38.2% at Electric Light and 32.1% at Red Dam, with cyanidation of gravity tails contributing an additional 33.4% and 38.6% respectively. Head grades of the samples were 3.0 g/t Au for Electric Light and a much higher 17.2 g/t Au for Red Dam, underscoring the high-grade nature of the latter deposit.

Validation of Historical Data and Flotation Potential

These results align closely with historic metallurgical testing conducted by Metcom Laboratories and Core Process Engineering for previous owners, which reported gravity and carbon-in-leach (CIL) recoveries in similar ranges. Notably, historic flotation test work indicated gold recoveries exceeding 94% for both deposits, with 97.4% recovery for Electric Light and 94.9% for Red Dam. This suggests that installing a flotation circuit at the GGPP could significantly enhance gold recovery rates.

Savannah plans to undertake further flotation test work in 2026 to validate these historical results and assess the economic viability of incorporating flotation into the processing plant. Additional test work will also explore cyanide leaching of flotation tails and oxidation treatments of flotation concentrates to optimize gold doré production.

Metallurgical Testing Methodology and Gold Deportment

The test work involved detailed gravity recovery assessments using Knelson concentrators followed by carbon-in-leach cyanidation of gravity tails. Multi-stage diagnostic leach tests were performed to understand the nature of refractory gold not recovered by gravity or CIL. Results indicate that refractory gold is primarily associated with arsenopyrite and carbonaceous material at Electric Light and mainly with arsenopyrite at Red Dam.

The sampling was based on quarter core from diamond drill holes completed in late 2025, with composite samples assayed and tested at ALS Metallurgy Services Laboratory in Tasmania. The rigorous approach and alignment with previous data provide confidence in the representativeness of the results for the sulphide mineral resources.

Strategic Implications for Georgetown Gold Project

Electric Light and Red Dam are located approximately 30 km and 60 km north of the Georgetown Gold Processing Plant, respectively. The confirmation that the existing plant can achieve over 70% gold recovery from these sulphide ores without modification supports the potential for near-term processing of these resources. This complements Savannah’s ongoing efforts to expand and upgrade the Electric Light resource, recently reported to include an Indicated category, which is critical for advancing mining plans.

While the current gravity and cyanidation recovery rates are solid, the prospect of significantly higher recoveries through flotation could materially improve project economics and resource utilisation. Savannah’s planned metallurgical program in 2026 will be keenly watched for insights on the feasibility and timing of such an upgrade.