Kenorland Minerals Announces Preliminary Metallurgical Results at the Frotet Project
Kenorland Minerals Announces Preliminary
Metallurgical Results at the Frotet Project
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - January 18, 2023) -
Kenorland Minerals Ltd.
(
TSXV:
KLD
) (
OTCQX: KLDCF
) (
FSE: 3WQ0
)
("
Kenorland
"
or the "
Company
") is pleased to announce the
results of preliminary metallurgical testing of the Regnault gold system ("
Regnault
")
on the Frotet Project
(the "
Project
"), located in northern Quebec and held under joint venture (the "
Joint Venture
") with
Sumitomo Metal Mining Canada Ltd. ("
SMMCL
").
Results of the Preliminary Metallurgical Study
Preliminary metallurgical test work was initiated with the completion of hole 22RDD149 that twinned the
Regnault discovery hole 20RDD007 (29.08m at 8.47 g/t Au including 11.13m at 18.43 g/t Au*) and
intersected
29.20m at 16.61 g/t Au including 9.85m at 44.89 g/t Au.
Objectives of this study included
the analysis of mineralogical characteristics and the preliminary assessment of Au-Ag recovery through
cyanide amenability of the Regnault ore. The study was carried out at the Engineering Dept., Mineral
Resources Division of Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd.
Approximately 60kg of material from 27.1m of NQ half drill core from 22RDD149 was processed to
make a representative sample of the R1 mineralised zone for characterization. Samples were crushed
to under 1.7mm and thoroughly mixed. A 1kg sample was split for head assay, X-ray diffractometry
(XRD) and mineralogical analysis by Mineral Liberation Analyzer (MLA). The composite head grade was
15.9 g/t Au and 24 g/t Ag, similar to the original composite analyzed by Bureau Veritas Commodities
(Timmins, Ontario). MLA analysis identified gold-silver-telluride, electrum and native gold as the main
gold and silver bearing mineral species. Sulphides identified include pyrite, chalcopyrite and galena
totalling 2.3%. Approximately 84% of the Au bearing minerals was gold-silver-tellurium minerals, and the
rest was composed from 5% native gold and 11% electrum (Figure 1). More than 90% of the gold and
silver bearing minerals were classified as liberated or exposed in the leach feed (100µm in P80).
Figure 1: Proportion of gold and silver bearing minerals in the head sample.
To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6489/151635_revfigure1.jpg
Baseline test procedures were conducted by using four samples which were ground to 100µm in P80
and underwent oxygen purging for 24 hours, followed by cyanide leaching for 48hrs at 0.5g/L NaCN
concentration. Dissolved oxygen concentration during cyanide leaching was 8-9 mg/L. Pregnant leach
solutions were taken and analyzed at 2, 6, 24 and 48 hours, as well as analysis of the test residue.
Baseline conditions indicated gold extraction of 86.9% and silver extraction of 68.2% in average (Table
1) with cyanide consumption rates between 1.1 and 1.5 kg/t.
Upon completion of the baseline tests the effect of extended leaching duration (increased to 72 hours),
higher dissolved oxygen content (increased to 30-35 mg/L), higher NaCN concentration (increased to
1.0g/L), and finer feed size (75µm in P80) were investigated. Gold recoveries increased to 89.1-89.9%
with extended leaching, finer grind size, and increased dissolved oxygen while the increased NaCN
concentration only marginally improved recovery. Silver recoveries increased to 81.5-86.2%, with the
increased dissolved oxygen and NaCN concentration while extended leaching marginally improved
recoveries. These results indicate that gold extraction is best improved with finer grinding and extended
leaching, likely due to an increase in liberated gold grains and complete dissolution of coarse gold.
Silver extraction is best improved with extended leaching and higher dissolved oxygen content, likely due
to the leaching kinetics of the Ag-bearing tellurides.
Table 1: Summary of preliminary metallurgical testing conditions and results.
To view an enhanced version of Table 1, please visit:
https://images.newsfilecorp.com/files/6489/151635_revtable1.jpg
The initial metallurgical test work has demonstrated promising Au-Ag recoveries of the Regnault-style
ore. Additional work has been planned to further maximize recovery, including the effects of gravity
separation of coarse gold and electrum prior to cyanide leaching, the potential effect of flotation prior to
cyanide leaching, and the use of an activator (ie. Pb(NO3)2, or citric acid) to increase extraction of
precious metals from gold-silver-tellurium minerals during cyanide leaching.
(* See press release July 29, 2020)
About the Frotet Project
The Frotet Project was first identified by Kenorland in 2017 after completing a regional prospectivity
study over the Abitibi and Frotet-Evans Greenstone Belts of Quebec. The initial 55,921 ha property was
acquired through map staking in March 2017 and optioned to Sumitomo Metal Mining Canada Ltd.
("
SMMCL
"), a wholly owned subsidiary of Sumitomo Metal Mining Co., Ltd. in April 2018. Two years of
property-wide systematic till sampling led to a maiden drill program in 2020 which resulted in a
significant grassroots discovery at the prospect now named Regnault. The project is currently under a
joint venture agreement between SMMCL and Kenorland Minerals Ltd., with interests being held at 80%
and 20%, respectively. Under the joint venture, exploration is funded pro-rata and Kenorland is presently
the operator of the project.
Any party which does not contribute and is diluted below a 10% interest,
converts its interest to a 2% uncapped net smelter royalty.
About Kenorland Minerals Ltd.
Kenorland Minerals Ltd. (TSXV: KLD) is a mineral exploration Company incorporated under the laws of
the Province of British Columbia and based in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Kenorland's focus
is early to advanced stage exploration in North America. The Company currently holds five projects in
Quebec where work is being completed under joint venture and earn-in agreements from third parties.
The Frotet Project and Chicobi Project are held under joint venture with Sumitomo, the O'Sullivan Project
is optioned to Sumitomo, the Chebistuan Project is optioned to Newmont Corporation and the Hunter
Project is held under option to Centerra Gold Inc. In Ontario, the Company holds the South Uchi Project
under an earn-in agreement with a wholly owned subsidiary of Barrick Gold Corporation. In Alaska, the
Company holds the advanced stage Tanacross porphyry Cu-Au-Mo project, optioned to Antofagasta, as
well as a 70% interest in the Healy Project, held under joint venture with Newmont Corporation.
Further information can be found on the Company's website
www.kenorlandminerals.com
Kenorland Minerals Ltd.
Zach Flood
President and CEO, Director
Tel: +1 604 363 1779
Kenorland Minerals Ltd.
Scott Smits
Vice President of Exploration
Tel: +1 250 686 8135
Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward-looking information (together,
"forward-looking statements") within the meaning of applicable securities laws. All statements, other
than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking statements. Generally, forward-looking
statements can be identified by the use of terminology such as "plans", "expects', "estimates",
"intends", "anticipates", "believes" or variations of such words, or statements that certain actions,
events or results "may", "could", "would", "might", "will be taken", "occur" or "be achieved". Forward-
looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and other factors disclosed under the heading "Risk
Factors" and elsewhere in the Company's filings with Canadian securities regulators, that could cause
actual results, performance, prospects and opportunities to differ materially from those expressed or
implied by such forward-looking statements. Although the Company believes that the assumptions
and factors used in preparing these forward-looking statements are reasonable based upon the
information currently available to management as of the date hereof, actual results and developments
may differ materially from those contemplated by these statements. Readers are therefore cautioned
not to place undue reliance on these statements, which only apply as of the date of this news release,
and no assurance can be given that such events will occur in the disclosed times frames or at all.
Except where required by applicable law, the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update
or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or
otherwise.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined
in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or
accuracy of this release.
To view the source version of this press release, please visit
https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/151635