BacTech Completes Collection of Concentrate Samples
BacTech Completes Collection of Gold Concentrate Samples from
Six Ecuador Processing Plants
July 9, 2020
BacTech Environmental Corporation (“BacTech or the Company”) (CSE: BAC, OTC:
BCCEF) today announced it has completed the collection of gold concentrate
samples produced by six different gold processing facilities in Ponce Enriquez and
Portovelo, Ecuador.
Ross Orr, President and CEO of BacTech states “This represents an important step
to move the Ponce Enriquez bioleach gold project forward in Ecuador. We are very
pleased that we were able to attract concentrate from various producers in our
selected test a reas, which demonstrates their willingness and desire to improve
margins and to provide sound environmental solutions in a region that depends on
mining to provide local jobs and economic well-being for its own people.”
The six collected 10 kg samples will be assayed at a local laboratory and a
representative composite sample will then be made and shipped to Perth,
Australia. Once in Perth, the sample material will be sent to ALS Labs where a
Bioleach Test Program will be undertaken under the supervision of BacTech V.P.,
Technology and Engineering, Dr. Paul Miller. The Bioleach Test Program results and
report are expected to be completed within six months.
Based on prior BacTech sampling experience, the Company anticipates a positive
outcome to the proposed Bioleach Test Program, at which time a third-party
engineering group will be engaged to undertake a Prefeasibility Study that would
provide anticipated economics for the project.
The areas where the gold concentrate samples were collected are known for their
high levels of arsenic. It is this high level of arsenic in the concentrates that leads to
dramatically reduced pr ices being paid to local producers . The majority of the
discounted high arsenic material is bought by Asian smelters and roasters and
shipped offshore.
As opposed to shipping the concentrate offshore, BacTech proposes to build a local
plant that would endeavour to pay higher prices for the concentrate and keep jobs
in Ecuador. The combination of inexpensive energy, high grades of gold, favourable
tax incentives, the elimination of transportation costs to Asia, and the government
export tax make the use of bioleaching in Ponce Enriquez extremely attractive for
gold producers and BacTech.
BacTech is targeting concentrates with a cut -off grade of 40 grams per tonne and
arsenic levels above 10%. The following are the grades reported by the processing
plants for the samples that were collected . These are grades supplied by the
processor and all the samples will be subject to assay verification upon arrival in
Perth.
Summary of Samples Collected From 6 Process Plants in Ponce Enriquez
Plant Sample Wet
Weight
(kg)
Flotation Stated
Grade
Au
gpt/opt
Stated
As
Grade
in %
Monthly
Wet
Tonnage
Share
of Total
(%)
A Conc 10 Yes +CIP 40 / 1.3 0.9 125 11.11
B Conc 10 Yes 20/ 0.65 16 175 15.56
C Conc 10 Yes +CIP 50/ 1.6 27 175 15.56
D Conc 10 Yes 60/1.9 10 200 17.78
E Conc 10 Yes 35/1.13 12 250 22.22
F Conc 10 Yes 55/1.77 15 200 17.78
Total 60 43.33/1.4 13.48 1125 100
gpt= grams per tonne, opt = ounces per tonne
As illustrated above, the grades of all concentrates provided by the producers
exceed 35 gpt of gold (1.13 opt) except for one and are as high as 60 gpt (1.93 opt).
As well, the average grade of arsenic in the samples exceeds 13%. Given the high
level of a rsenic in the concentrates , the producer is forced to accept heavy
penalties from the buyers.
BacTech has publicly discussed that the expected daily capacity of the proposed
Ponce Enriquez bioleaching plant would be 40 tpd. From the above chart , we
identify a cumulative feed of 1125 tonnes per month or 37.5 tpd of concentrate.
Given the positive response we received from the producers, BacTech will consider
increasing the initial capacity of the plant to 50 tpd or more. The Company believes
that the completion of the plant in Ponce Enriquez will attract additional feed from
other mines in Ecuador as well as Peru and Colombia. Bioleaching is modular in
nature and can be expanded without interrupting an existing operation.
Yesterday, BacTech commented on a recent tailings burst in Ponce Enriquez. The
Company is eager to bring assistance to the tailing issues in Ponce Enriquez in
addition to safely processing concentrates from local mines. BacTech has held
discussions with various levels of government in the past and will continue to
provide feedback to them as we proceed with our test program.
BacTech anticipates releasing results of the ongoing Bioleach Test Program as they
become available.
ABOUT BACTECH
BacTech is promoting the use of its proprietary bioleach processing technology to
treat historic arsenopyrite concentrates and tailings produced in the Ponce
Enriquez area of Southern Ecuador.
BacTech has agreed to participate with a group looking to reprocess the Arsenic
Stockpile in Snow Lake, Manitoba as a technology partner.
For further information contact: Ross Orr, President & CEO, BacTech Environmental
Corporation/ 416- 813-0303 ext. 222, Cell 416- 346-5529 and Email:
Robin Cook, Investor Relations: 416-809-1738, Email: [email protected]
Follow us on:
Facebook http://www.facebook.com/BacTechGreen
Twitter http://twitter.com/BacTechGreen
LinkedIn http://www.linkedin.com/company/1613873
Vimeo http://vimeo.com/bactechgreen
YouTube http://www.youtube.com/user/bactechgreen
Special Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains “forward-looking information”, which may include, but
is not limited to, statements with respect to future tailings sites, sampling or other
investigations of tailing sites, the Company’s ability to make use of infrastructure
around tailings sites or operating performance of the Company and its projects.
Often, but not always, forward -looking statements c an be identified using words
such as “plans”, “expects”, “is expected”, “budget”, “scheduled”, “estimates”,
“forecasts”, “intends”, “anticipates”, or believes” or variations (including negative
variations) of such words and phrases, or state that certain a ctions, events or
results “may”, “could”, “would”, “might” or “will” be taken, occur or be achieved.
Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and
other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of
the Company to be materially different from any future results, performance or
achievements expressed or implied by the forward- looking statements. Forward-
looking statements contained herein are made as of the date of this news release
and the Company disclaims, other than as required by law, any obligation to update
any forward -looking statements whether because of new information, results,
future events, circumstances, or if management’s estimates or opinions should
change, or otherwise. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements
will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially
from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, the reader is cautioned not
to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements.
Shares outstanding: 105,420,423
The Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) has not reviewed and does not accept
responsibility for the adequacy or the accuracy of the contents of this release.
This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any of the
shares, nor is it a solicitation of interest from a prospective investor.