Carnavale Resources has reported exceptional metallurgical results for its Kookynie Gold Project, with gold recoveries between 98% and 99% across all ore types, underpinning the project's economic viability and toll treatment prospects.
- Gold recoveries exceed 98% across oxide, transitional, and fresh domains
- Low cyanide consumption and favourable processing characteristics
- Ore suitable for third-party CIL plant toll treatment
- Resource totals 855kt at 4.4g/t Au for 120,000 ounces
- Metallurgical work supports upcoming feasibility and commercial agreements
Exceptional Metallurgical Performance Validates Kookynie Economics
Carnavale Resources Ltd (ASX:CAV) has delivered a significant boost to its Kookynie Gold Project (KGP) with detailed metallurgical testwork confirming gold recoveries between 98% and 99% across all mineralogical domains. This level of recovery is outstanding and reinforces the project’s economic potential, particularly given the plan to truck ore to third-party processing facilities within the Eastern Goldfields region.
The project’s three ore domains, oxide, transitional, and fresh, each demonstrated excellent processing characteristics. Cyanidation leach tests using process water from a typical Goldfields CIL plant yielded recoveries consistently above 98%, with gravity gold recoveries ranging from 71% in oxide to 81% in fresh rock. Cyanide consumption was low, between 0.35 kg/t and 0.44 kg/t, underscoring efficient reagent use.
Ore Characteristics Support Toll Treatment Strategy
Importantly, the ore samples showed no signs of preg-robbing, refractory mineralisation, or deleterious elements that could complicate processing. This metallurgical ‘cleanliness’ means the Kookynie ore is compatible with standard Carbon-in-Leach (CIL) plants, facilitating negotiations for toll treatment or ore purchase agreements. Managing Director Humphrey Hale highlighted that the ore’s amenability to conventional processing and low cyanide consumption make it highly treatable in existing facilities, a key factor for project economics.
Comminution tests revealed that the transitional and fresh domains have crushing and milling characteristics similar to many other Goldfields deposits, while the oxide domain is notably soft and friable. These findings provide confidence that the ore can be processed efficiently at third-party plants without requiring specialised treatment.
Resource Base and Future Development Pathways
The KGP hosts a high-grade resource of approximately 855,000 tonnes at 4.4 g/t gold, containing 120,000 ounces. The resource is split between an initial open pit and subsequent underground development, with the fresh domain comprising 85% of the ounces. This resource base underpins Carnavale’s ongoing feasibility work, with a Bankable Feasibility Study expected soon and plans for further exploration drilling underway to expand the deposit.
The metallurgical program included 212 kg of diamond core and 825 kg of reverse circulation drilling samples, ensuring robust representation of ore variability. Two grind sizes were tested (P80 of 106µm and 130µm), reflecting processing scenarios at potential toll treatment plants, with both delivering recoveries exceeding 96%. Extended leaching tests indicated that additional gold could be recovered under intensive conditions, suggesting upside in processing efficiency at typical mining grades around 5 g/t.
These results come as Carnavale nears completion of its feasibility study and continue to build on recent resource upgrades and mining lease approvals, positioning the company to advance commercial discussions for toll treatment and ore sales within a low-capex development framework.
Bottom Line?
Carnavale’s high metallurgical recoveries and favourable ore characteristics strengthen the Kookynie project’s commercial prospects, but the timing and terms of toll treatment agreements will be critical next steps.
Questions in the middle?
- Will Carnavale secure toll treatment agreements on favourable terms given the ore’s amenability?
- Could further exploration materially expand the resource beyond the current 120,000 ounces?
- How will the ongoing assessment of tailings properties influence environmental approvals and processing options?