Lefroy Exploration’s metallurgical tests reveal up to 97% gold recovery from its Burns High-Grade Deposit, underpinning plans for a resource update by September 2026.
- 97% gold recovery confirmed via conventional cyanide leaching
- High gravity gold recovery between 38% and 57%
- Gold recoveries unaffected by copper grade
- Resource re-domaining and update planned for September quarter
- Burns deposit poised as a future production hub for Lefroy
Exceptional Gold Recoveries Validate Burns Deposit Potential
Lefroy Exploration Limited (ASX:LEX) has unveiled metallurgical test results that confirm up to 97% gold recovery from its Burns High-Grade Deposit, a key asset within its Lefroy Gold Project in Western Australia’s prolific Kambalda-Kalgoorlie district. The tests, conducted under typical cyanide leaching conditions, demonstrate robust recoveries across both oxide and fresh rock domains, representing 95% of the high-grade resource.
The gravity gold recovery component ranged from 38% to 57%, with recoveries notably independent of copper content. This suggests that gold extraction efficiency is not hindered by copper mineralisation, a common challenge in polymetallic deposits.
Metallurgical Insights Inform Resource Re-Domaining and Development
Following these encouraging results, Lefroy will immediately embark on re-domaining the Burns high-grade resource to integrate the improved understanding of mineralogy and metallurgical domains. This step is critical for refining the mineral resource estimate and guiding future development strategies.
The updated mineral resource estimate for Burns is expected before the end of the September quarter 2026. The current high-grade resource at Burns Central stands at 4.22 million tonnes at 1.18 g/t gold for approximately 159,285 ounces, forming part of a broader deposit containing nearly half a million ounces.
Test Work Highlights and Processing Implications
Independent Metallurgical Operations Pty Ltd (IMO) conducted the test work on composites derived from recent diamond and reverse circulation drilling. Key findings include a 30% increase in gold recovery for fresh ore composites when cyanide concentration was increased, while oxide and fresh ore composites achieved gold recoveries exceeding 97% at standard cyanide levels.
However, the transitional ore domain, representing only 5% of the high-grade resource, contains higher cyanide-soluble copper species (notably chalcocite) and showed lower gold recoveries that improved with increased cyanide concentration. Lefroy plans to assess alternative processing methods such as flotation for this domain to optimise recovery.
Burns Deposit Positioned for Growth Amid Broader Lefroy Portfolio Advances
Managing Director Graeme Gribbin highlighted the significance of these metallurgical results, stating they bolster confidence in Burns as a future production centre. Lefroy’s broader strategy includes advancing its Mt Martin and Lucky Strike deposits, with recent capital raises and drilling campaigns accelerating resource growth and development planning.
With over one million ounces across its portfolio and a low-cost production pathway underway at Lucky Strike, Lefroy is well placed to capitalise on these robust metallurgical outcomes. The upcoming resource update at Burns will be a key milestone in translating exploration success into tangible project economics.
Bottom Line?
Lefroy’s strong metallurgical results at Burns set the stage for a resource update that could sharpen development plans, though transitional ore processing remains a technical hurdle to watch.
Questions in the middle?
- How will the transitional ore’s processing challenges impact overall project economics?
- What exploration results might emerge from the planned drilling targeting resource growth at Burns?
- Could the updated resource estimate unlock new development or partnership opportunities?