Kootenay Silver Sees Positive Results in Preliminary Metallurgical Testing at La Negra

Kootenay Silver (TSXV:KTN) reported positive results from preliminary metallurgical testing on samples from its La Negra silver discovery in Mexico. Results showed high silver recoveries for both leach extraction and flotation methods. Kootenay is now planning to conduct a phase III drill program on La Negra to further delineate the extent of mineralization prior to completing its maiden resource estimate for the project.
As quoted in the press release:

Silver extraction in seven bottle roll tests (leach tests) ranged from 71 to 90%.  Silver extraction in three rougher flotation tests ranged from 85 to 98%. Importantly, silver extraction by leaching was not influenced by sulphide sulphur content, and a sample of material from 100 to 200m below surface had 89% extraction in a bottle roll test. High silver recoveries by leaching, including in sulphide material, indicate potential for silver to be recovered on site in a dore, substantially reducing costs and discounts associated with a sulphide concentrate produced by flotation. Individual results are given in the tables at the end of the release.
Based on demonstrating favourable metallurgy on La Negra and because mineralization is open in three directions, Kootenay has revised its schedule and now plans to conduct a phase III drill program on La Negra to further delineate the extent of mineralization prior to completing a maiden NI 43-101 resource estimate. The Company will look to improve its balance sheet prior to drilling and is exploring different strategies to achieve its priorities, including equity, strategic partnerships or M&A.
Metallurgical test work was completed by Kappes Cassiday and Associates of Reno, Nevada, under the direction of Hans Smit, P.Geo, a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101.  Seven samples were created for testing comprised of material from 9 or 10 sub-samples of drill core rejects from across the area drilled and grouped by specific vertical depth and grade ranges.  Bottle roll leach tests were conducted on a 1,000 gram portion of each sample that was ring and puck pulverized to a target size of 80% passing 0.075 millimetres.  Tests were run for a total of 96 hours, but in most tests the majority of the silver was recovered in the first 2 to 4 hours.  Cyanide and lime inputs were not optimized.

Kootenay president and CEO, James McDonald, said:

We are very pleased to be able to report such excellent results from our initial metallurgical test work on La Negra. These preliminary results indicate that high silver recoveries should be achievable by simple, cost effective milling and extraction methods and they clearly reinforce La Negra’s potential to evolve into a low-cost, open pittable silver resource.  This potential is further underscored by drill results to date on La Negra that have consistently returned multiple wide intersections of mineralization, starting at surface and remaining open along strike and to depth, at the kind of silver grades that are currently being mined by open pit methods in Mexico.

Click here for the full press release.