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Western Exploration Reports Positive Doby George Metallurgical Results, Including Average Recoveries of 72%
VANCOUVER, British Columbia / Jan 17, 2024 / Business Wire / Western Exploration Inc. (TSXV: WEX; OTCQX: WEXPF) (the "Company" or "Western Exploration") is plea
About this update from Western Exploration Inc
[{"type":"text","content":"VANCOUVER, British Columbia / Jan 17, 2024 / Business Wire / Western Exploration Inc. (TSXV: WEX; OTCQX: WEXPF) (the \"Company\" or \"Western Exploration\") is pleased to announce the results of 2023 metallurgical testing. Highlights from the work include: Column test work conducted by McClelland Laboratories, Inc. (\"MLI\") of Reno, Nevada on PQ core from 2022 drilling returned (i) average leach recoveries of 65% (range 56.1% to 77.8%) for -50 mm (2 inch) feed size, and (ii) average recoveries of 72% (range 64% to 81.8%) for 80%-12.7 mm (1/2 inch) feed size. Cyanide consumption was low and expected to be below 0.4 kilogram NaCN/metric ton (\"kgNaCN/mt\") of ore for 12.7 mm crush size and hydrated lime consumption of between 0.7 to 2.0 kilogram/metric ton (\"kg/mt\") of ore during commercial leaching. \"Load permeability\" tests on residual leached 12.7 mm material indicated adequate permeability for commercial heap leach stack heights of up to 91 meters (300 feet) without any pretreatment agglomeration. Western Exploration CEO, Darcy Marud, said, \"Western Exploration is pleased that the Doby George metallurgical results report high leach recovery rates that are consistent with past metallurgical work. The completed test work is a key milestone identified in the 2021 technical report and a key component needed to advance the Doby George deposits towards a pre-feasibility study.\" 2023 Column Leach Metallurgy Results A detailed heap leach testing program was conducted on drill composites representing gold bearing oxide and mixed materials collected from the Doby George deposit with PQ drilling in 2022 (Figure 1). Agitated cyanidation bottle roll tests were conducted on a total of 46 drill core composites to obtain preliminary information regarding heap leach amenability and ore variability. The results of the bottle roll tests were reported in the Company's news release dated July 10, 2023 and entitled \"Western Exploration Reports Average of 69.3% Gold Extraction from First Round of Metallurgical Test Work at Doby George, Aura Project, NV\". Based on the results of the bottle roll testing, a total of seven master (column test) composites were prepared for column leach testing. Five oxide and one blended oxide/mixed column leach tests were conducted at -50 mm (2 inch) and 80%-12.7 mm (1/2inch) feed sizes. A seventh composite, re...