Gibb River Diamonds (GIB) has announced a significant expansion at its Edjudina Gold Project in Western Australia with the release of a maiden JORC Inferred Resource. The newly reported resource consists of 24,800 tonnes at 1.51g/t, containing 1,200 ounces of gold, located within historic leach pads from mining operations spanning the 1890s to the 1980s. These surface-level deposits provide easy access for potential extraction, offering a low-cost opportunity for resource development.
Gold Recovery and Project Economics
Metallurgical testing confirms a recoverable gold grade of 1.0g/t, translating to 780 recoverable ounces. This leach pad resource complements the existing JORC Indicated and Inferred Resource at the Neta Prospect, currently standing at 378,000 tonnes at 1.9g/t for 24,000 ounces of gold, including an Indicated Resource of 110,000 tonnes at 2.2g/t for 8,000 ounces.
GIB is advancing permitting and joint venture discussions for a mine and haul operation at Neta, with plans to utilize toll treatment at a third-party mill. The inclusion of the leach pad resource is expected to enhance project economics and extend its overall operational lifespan.
Historical Leach Pads and Metallurgical Insights
The historic leach pads, containing pre-processed material from crushing and cyanide heap leaching, present a cost-effective extraction opportunity. These materials can be directly transported via road trains to a processing facility. Metallurgical testing using cyanide bottle rolls indicates gold recoveries between 55.3% and 78.3%, depending on the specific leach pad, with potential for improved recovery through optimized processing techniques.
Environmental Considerations and Strategic Location
Assay data highlights low mercury and arsenic levels, minimizing environmental concerns. Bulk density is estimated at 1.6g/cm³, with further verification underway. Given its proximity to key infrastructure, the Edjudina Gold Project is well-positioned for future development and expansion.
