Nex Metals Explorations reports metallurgical test results confirming ~1 g/t gold grades at its Kookynie Tailings Project, alongside the unexpected identification of scheelite, a tungsten mineral, as a potential byproduct.
- Gold grades confirmed at ~1 g/t consistent with historical drilling
- Processing flowsheet combining gravity and cyanidation circuits identified
- Coarse-grained gold detected via targeted screen fire assay
- Scheelite (tungsten) found in gravity concentrate, opening byproduct opportunity
- Clean environmental profile with no deleterious substances impacting processing
Gold Grades Validated by Bulk Sampling
Nex Metals Explorations Ltd (ASX:NME) has reinforced confidence in its Kookynie Tailings Project after metallurgical test work confirmed gold grades around 1 gram per tonne. Two 50-kilogram bulk samples taken from tailings dump 4 at the Cosmopolitan site returned head grades of 0.94 ppm and 0.96 ppm Au, closely matching historical aircore drilling results from 2017. This alignment suggests the samples are representative of the tailings material, a critical factor for accurate processing evaluation.
Gravity and Cyanidation Circuit Confirmed as Optimal Processing Pathway
Particle size distribution analysis revealed that about half of the tailings mass is amenable to gravity processing. Subsequent test work identified a combined gravity and cyanidation circuit as the most effective flowsheet to maximise gold recovery. Notably, a targeted 75-micron screen fire assay indicated the presence of coarse-grained gold, which could enhance recovery rates. The finer fractions, which were less targeted in previous mining efforts, contain the bulk of the gold, underscoring the importance of this dual processing approach.
Scheelite Discovery Opens Tungsten Byproduct Avenue
Beyond gold, the test work uncovered scheelite, a tungsten-bearing mineral, at a head grade of 0.063% WO3. Examination of gravity concentrates under ultraviolet light confirmed scheelite’s deportment to the gravity circuit, suggesting tungsten could be recovered alongside gold. Given tungsten’s status as a critical mineral, Nex Metals is exploring parallel or sequential processing options to evaluate the economic viability of tungsten recovery. However, this remains in early stages, with further test work required to assess extractability and market potential.
Favourable Environmental and Technical Outlook
The samples showed a clean environmental profile, with no deleterious substances identified above World Health Organisation guideline levels that might hinder processing or environmental management. Arsenic and organic carbon levels were notably low, and iron content moderate. These factors support Nex Metals’ ambition to develop a capital-light beneficiation capability at Kookynie, leveraging existing equipment to keep costs down.
Next Steps for Kookynie Tailings Development
With metallurgical results underpinning a clear technical pathway, Nex Metals plans to complete remaining test work phases and integrate these findings into an upcoming drilling programme. The project fits within the company’s broader capital-light gold strategy, which includes the WTAC Joint Venture in Western Australia and exploration in Egypt’s Eastern Desert. The tungsten byproduct potential adds a new dimension to the project’s economics, although its commercial impact remains to be determined.
Bottom Line?
Nex Metals’ metallurgical results solidify a processing approach for Kookynie Tailings while unveiling tungsten recovery potential that could diversify revenue streams if further test work proves viable.
Questions in the middle?
- How will further drilling refine grade continuity and processing parameters at Kookynie Tailings?
- What are the next technical hurdles for establishing an economically viable tungsten recovery circuit?
- Could tungsten byproduct economics materially shift the project’s valuation once assessed?