Plato Gold Completes Preliminary Mineralogical and Metallurgical Study for Gravity Concentration and Flotation of Massive Carbonatite from the Good Hope Niobium Project
For Immediate Release
Plato Gold Completes Preliminary Mineralogical and
Metallurgical Study for Gravity Concentration and
Flotation of Massive Carbonatite from the
Good Hope Niobium Project
Toronto, August 12, 2020 – Plato Gold Corp. (TSX-V: PGC; Frankfurt: 4Y7 or WKN: A0M2QX)
(“Plato” or the “Company ”), an exploration company with a portfolio of properties in Northern
Ontario and Santa Cruz, Argentina is pleased to announce the completion of a Preliminary
Mineralogical and Metallurgical Study (the “Study”) on a 39.8 kg sample of drill core from the
Good Hope Niobium Project, 45 kilometres northwest of the town of Marathon, Ontario.
The Study, carried out by Process Mineralogical Consulting Ltd. (“PMC”), of Maple Ridge, B.C.,
was conducted to determine if the niobium -bearing carbonatites from the Good Hope Niobium
Project were amenable to concentration by gravity and flotation methods. These are conventional
methods used for Niobium recovery. The sample used for PMC’s study came from a representative
sample as chosen by PMC from drill hole PGH -18-10A from Plato’s previous drill program (See
Press Release dated September 19, 2018).
The initial preliminary mineralogical and metallurgical study yielded encouraging results .
Although a conclusion cannot be determined regarding the quality of the concentrate that it is
possible to achieve due to the limited number of tests and small sample size, valuable information
was obtained:
• Pyrochlore is the only Nb-bearing mineral identified in the sample.
• The pyrochlore is not predominantly ultrafine with ~ 4% of the pyrochlore grains being
<20 μm.
• There does not appear to be any severe metallurgical concern s that would impede the
recovery of the pyrochlore to a combined gravity and flotation concentrate.
• A typical flowsheet for niobium recovery may include both gravity and flotation: Gravity
may be preferred for coarser grained pyrochlore with flotation often applied to finer grained
material., Approximately 70% recovery was achieved in the preliminary gravity rougher
circuit
• Apatite and zircon - were also concentrated in both gravity tests. However, if these diluting
agents can be separated from the roughe r gravity concentrate, they would be a potential
additional source of revenue, as well as increasing Nb grade . This will be tested in future
rounds of test work.
Among the recommendations, PMC suggests Plato perform further flotation stud ies with the
selection of a reagent schemes. This may indicate the viability of an all flotation plant and would
give further data on pyrochlore concentrate grades and recovery
“We are extremely pleased with these preliminary mineralogical and metallurgical findings,” said
Anthony J. Cohen, President & CEO of Plato. “We had not realized the potential for zirconium
on this property to be a valuable credit, along with the apatite, to the niobium-bearing pyrochlore.
Furthermore, the metallurgy is conventional , and there is an absence of significant amounts of
either uranium or thorium which are expensive to handle and/or dispose of ,” added Cohen. “We
are looking forward to our next drill program now that we have this valuable information, to further
develop this well-located niobium project. I could not be more encouraged now to move this
project forward,” said Cohen.
Mr. John Fox, P.Eng of Laurion Consulting Inc is the independent “Qualified Person” as defined
in NI 43-101, who has reviewed the PMC report and this press release and approved the technical
content in this press release.
The completed Preliminary Mineralogical and Metallurgical Study, by Process Mineralogical
Consulting Ltd., an independent lab, is available at www.platogold.com or www.sedar.com.
About Plato Gold Corp.
Plato Gold Corp. is a Canadian exploration company listed on the TSX Venture Exchange with
projects in Marathon Ontario, Timmins Ontario and Santa Cruz, Argentina.
The Good Hope Niobium Project consists of a total of 254 claims, consisting of 227 Single C ell
Mining Claims and 27 Boundary Cell Mining Claims, and covers an area of approximately 5,146
hectares in Killala Lake Area and Cairngorm Lake Area Townships, near Marathon Ontario. Plato
holds 100% interest in the Good Hope Niobium Property.
The Pic River Platinum Group Metals (PGM) Project consists of a total of 111 Single Cell Mining
Claims and covers an area of approximately 2,247 hectares in Foxtrap Lake and Grain Township,
near Marathon Ontario of which 19 claims are contiguous to the western boundary of Generation
Mining’s Marathon PGM project where their Sally deposit is located.
The Timmins Ontario project includes 4 properties: Guibord, Harker, Holloway and Marriott in
the Harker/Holloway gold camp located east of Timmins, Ontario. Plato holds 50% interest in the
Guibord property with the remaining 50% held by Osisko Mining Inc. (“Osisko”). Osisko also
holds 80% interest in the Harker property with Plato holding the remaining 20%.
In Argentina, Plato owns a 75% interest in Winnipeg Mi nerals S.A. (“WMSA”), an Argentina
incorporated company. The Lolita Property, held by WMSA, is comprised of a number of
contiguous mineral rights totaling 9,672 hectares. Work has advanced on this exploration property
to the point that it is drill-ready or ready to be optioned to a partner.
For additional company information, please visit: www.platogold.com.
NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION PROVIDER (AS THAT
TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OF THIS RELEASE.
For further information, please contact:
Anthony Cohen
President and CEO
Plato Gold Corp.
T: 416-968-0608
F: 416-968-3339
www.platogold.com
Forward Looking Statements
This news release contains “forward-looking statements”, within the meaning of applicable securities laws. These statements include, but are not
limited to, statements regarding the potential mineralization and resources, exploration results, concentrations of pay minerals may offset operating
costs and future plans and objectives. These forward -looking statements are subject to a variety of risks and uncertainties and other factors that
could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information. Risks that could change or prevent
these statements from coming to fruition include but are not limited to: changing costs for mining and processing; increased capital costs; the
timing and content of upcoming w ork programs; geological interpretations based on drilling that may change with more detailed information;
potential process methods and mineral recoveries assumption based on limited test work and by comparison to what are consider ed analogous
deposits that with further test work may not be comparable; testing of our process may not prove successful and even it tests are succes sful, the
economic and other outcomes may not be as expected; the availability of labour, equipment and markets for the products produced; and conditions
changing such that the minerals on our property cannot be economically mined, or that the required permits cannot be obtained . Although
management of Plato has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-
looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that
such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual resul ts and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements.
Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The forward-looking information contained herein is given
as of the date hereof and the Company assumes no responsibility to update or revise such information to reflect new events or circumstances, except
as required by law.