LAURION Announces Successful Completion of Sensor-Based Ore Sorting Campaigns from the Surface Stockpile at the Ishkoday Project
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LAURION Announces Successful Completion of Sensor-Based Ore
Sorting Campaigns from the Surface Stockpile at the Ishkoday
Project
TORONTO, ONTARIO (June 6, 2023) – LAURION Mineral Exploration Inc. (TSX.V: LME and
OTC: LMEFF) (“LAURION” or the “Corporation”) is pleased to announce that it has
completed two test campaigns of sensor-based ore sorting from the Sturgeon River
Mine surface stockpile. The test work was completed by the Saskatchewan Research
Council (“SRC”).
Stated Cynthia Le Sueur -Aquin, President and CEO of LAURION: “The Ishkoday
stockpile mineralization responds very well to both laser and colour sensor -based
sorting. We are optimistic that laser and colour sensor -based sorting will reduce
downstream processing costs. During the trade-off study, it became apparent that if
mill throughput rates are low (250 – 1000t/day), the cost of ore sorting could be
prohibitive. CAPEX and OPEX saving s can be anticipated with further definition of
inground resources that will warrant a processing plant that will process more than
1,000t/day. Sensor-based sorting may very well improve the economics of the project
and result in a more compact processing facility. If the stockpile at the Ishkoday site
is to be representative of the host rock from #1 and #3 gold bearing veins on the
property, t he assumption is that if sensor -based sorting can be successfully
implemented on the stockpile, then it will likely be applicable to potential unmined
resources in the vicinity of the mine area.”
The first test campaign was based on samples from the stockpile sent for ore sorting
targeted gold bearing minerals based on visual inspection and were shipped in bags
categorized by their mineral content . The sampling ’s objective was to test the
amenability of sorting particles with X-Ray Transmission (XRT) which sorts by difference
in particle density combined with laser illumination (laser technology) sorting which
utilizes a sensor to detect the light diffraction reflected from particles. Both
technologies could select high grade particles to some extent, but the laser
technology proved to be more effective.
The XRT testwork indicated a potential to reject 30% of th e coarse particles and
accept 70% while upgrading the sample by 15% (from 5.9g/t head grade to 7.8g/t
head grade ), with a sorting efficiency of 72% . (Sorting efficiency is the number of
particles above cut -off grade that report to the accepts pile divided by the total
number of particles that are above cut-off grade.) These results are sub-par and are
likely a result of minimal particle density differential between gangue and
mineralization.
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Laser illumination sorting showed more promising results, since m uch of the gold
appears to be associated with quartz in the mineralized samples tested. The laser
sorting resulted in upgrading the sample by 75% (from 5.9g/t head grade to 10.4g/t
head grade) with a sorting efficiency of 74.4%.
The second test campaign’s sample was a large sample taken from the stockpile with
an excavator, crushed and split before shipping to SRC. The second sample is more
representative of the mineralization in the stockpile. This sample was washe d and
screened out to material below 10 mm (generally considered un -sortable in this
process). The amount of minus 10mm material made up approximately 50% of the
mass of the sample. One hundred +10mm particles were then selected at random to
test laser and colorimetric sensors. A semi-empirical model for the laser sorter was
established that indicated 69% of the mineralization could be rejected as waste while
only losing 0.6% of the gold to the reject pile. The test work upgraded the
mineralization by 220% (from 2.63g/t head grade to 8.42g/t head grade ) which
exceeded expectations.
Similar results came from the colorimetric testing with a reject rate of 60% with a loss
to the reject pile of 0.94% of the gold and an upgrading of 145% (From 2.63g/t head
grade to 6.44g/t head grade) in the accepts pile.
Qualified Person
The technical contents of this release were reviewed and approved by Jean-Philippe
Paiement, PGeo, MSc, a consultant to LAURION, and a qualified person as defined by
National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects.
About LAURION Mineral Exploration Inc.
The Corporation is a junior mineral exploration and development company listed on
the TSXV under the symbol LME and on the OTC under the symbol LMEFF. LAURION
now has 256,909,855 outstanding shares of which approximately 80% are owned and
controlled by Ins iders who are eligible investors under the “Friends and Family ”
categories.
LAURION's emphasis is on the exploration and development of its flagship project, the
100% owned mid -stage 47 km 2 Ishkoday P roject, and its gold-rich polymetallic
mineralization.
LAURION’s chief priority remains maximizing shareholder value while simultaneously
embracing and considering the principles and best practices of environmental,
social, and corporate governance (ESG) issues. A large portion of the Corporation ’s
focus in this regard falls within the ambit of its mineral exploration activities and more
specifically, advancing the Ishkoday Project.
A consequence of LAURION’s success and advancement over the past several years
is that the Corporation has become positioned as a n acquisition target for
appropriate potential acquirors. Accordingly, the Corporation’s Board of Directors is
aware that possible strategic alternatives and transactional opportunities may arise
and/or could be procured in the short or medium terms. The Corporation will promptly
issue a press release if any material change occurs. In the meanwhile, LAURION will
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continue to explore opportunities and potential transactions that are strategically
beneficial to the Corporation and its shareholders.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, CONTACT:
LAURION Mineral Exploration Inc.
Cynthia Le Sueur-Aquin – President and CEO
Tel: 1-705-788-9186
Fax: 1-705-805-9256
Website: http://www.LAURION.ca
Caution Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This press release contains forward -looking statements, which reflect the Corporation’s current
expectations regarding future events including with respect to LAURION's business, operations and
condition, management's objectives, strategi es, beliefs and intentions, the Corporation’s a bility to
advance the Ishkoday Project, the nature, focus, timing and potential results of the Corporation’s future
exploration efforts, including its planned activities for Ishkoday in 2023 , the results of the test campaigns
described herein, the potential use and impact of sensor-based ore sorting, and any possible strategic
alternatives and transactional opportunities that may arise and/or could be procured in the future . The
forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties. Actual events and future results, performance
or achievements expressed or implied by such forward -looking statements could differ materially from
those projected herein including as a result of a change in the trading price o f the common shares of
LAURION, the interpretation and actual results of current and future exploration activities, changes in
project parameters as plans continue to be refined, future prices of gold and/or other metals, possible
variations in grade or re covery rates, failure of equipment or processes to operate as anticipated, the
failure of contracted parties to perform, labor disputes and other risks of the mining industry, delays in
obtaining governmental approvals or financing or in the completion of exploration, as well as those
factors disclosed in the Corporation’s publicly filed documents. Investors should consult the Corporation’s
ongoing quarterly and annual filings, as well as any other additional documentation comprising the
Corporation’s public disclosure record, for additional information on risks and uncertainties relating to
these forward -looking statements. The reader is cautioned not to rely on these forward -looking
statements. Subject to applicable law, the Corporation disclaims any oblig ation to update these
forward-looking statements.