Auravelle Metals Achieves 90.5% Gold Recovery at Sheoak Prospect
Auravelle Metals reports strong preliminary metallurgical results from its Sheoak Prospect, confirming high gold recoveries and non-refractory mineralisation amenable to conventional processing.
- 90.5% average gold recovery from Sheoak samples
- Gold mineralisation confirmed as non-refractory
- 22 RC samples tested via bottle roll BLEG method
- Upcoming aircore and RC drilling at Nuckulla Hill
- Sheoak system extends at least 600m and remains open
Strong Metallurgical Performance at Sheoak
Auravelle Metals Limited (ASX:AUV) has revealed promising early metallurgical testwork results from its Sheoak Prospect within the Nuckulla Hill Gold Project in South Australia. The company achieved an average gold recovery of 90.5% through a standard bottle roll Bulk Leach Extractable Gold (BLEG) analysis on 22 reverse circulation (RC) samples. Recoveries ranged between 81% and 97%, indicating the gold mineralisation is non-refractory and suitable for conventional cyanide leach processing methods such as Carbon In-Leach (CIL).
Implications for Processing and Resource Development
The high recovery rates bode well for future processing economics, as non-refractory gold deposits typically require less complex and costly treatment. The samples tested represent transitional to fresh mineralisation from a central cross section of Sheoak, with gold grades varying across intervals. Auravelle’s Managing Director Andrew Muir described the results as "very pleasing," noting that the non-refractory nature of the mineralisation provides confidence to expand drilling and exploration efforts.
Sheoak Prospect Remains Open and Expanding
The Sheoak gold system currently extends at least 600 metres along strike and remains open at depth to the north and south. Auravelle plans further infill and extensional RC drilling to better delineate the mineralised system and support more detailed metallurgical studies. These activities are critical to refining resource estimates and assessing the project’s potential economic viability.
Upcoming Drilling Programs Across Nuckulla Hill
The company’s aggressive exploration schedule aligns with its recent strategic moves, including a $1.5 million placement to fund drilling and sampling activities. Auravelle’s systematic approach combines geochemical sampling, geophysical surveys, and targeted drilling to unlock value in this underexplored region of the Gawler Craton.
Geological Setting and Historical Exploration
Sheoak lies adjacent to the western fringe of the Mesoproterozoic Gawler Range Volcanics, within the structurally significant Yarlbrinda Shear Zone. The gold mineralisation is hosted in sheared and brecciated granitoids and gneisses, interpreted as hydrothermal lode-style deposits with associated alteration and minor sulphides. Previous exploration by Equinox Resources and Doray Minerals laid groundwork with drilling and soil sampling, but Auravelle’s recent efforts have sharpened the focus on high-potential zones.
Bottom Line?
Auravelle’s preliminary metallurgical success at Sheoak sets a solid foundation for upcoming drilling campaigns that could significantly advance the Nuckulla Hill project’s development.
Questions in the middle?
- Will further metallurgical testing confirm consistent high recoveries across broader mineralisation?
- How will upcoming aircore and RC drilling refine the scale and grade continuity of Sheoak and surrounding targets?
- What impact might these results have on potential resource estimation and project economics in the near term?
