CGA Mining benefits from adding Lead Nitrate to Masbate gold processing

CGA Mining (ASX: CGX, TSX: CGA) has announced that the first plant trial of the addition of Lead Nitrate to the Masbate Processing Circuit has been very successful.

Masbate Gold Project in the Philippines was successfully developed with first gold poured on 12 May 2009.

The project which is currently ramping up to full production has a total indicated resource base of 4.55M ounces, total inferred resource base of 3.22M ounces and a probable reserve of 3.03M ounces of gold. It is currently forecast to produce over 200,000 ounces per annum.

The addition of lead nitrate to the circuit during the period 15 March to 24 March 2010 resulted in a 5% increase in gold recovery up to 88% (recovery for the month of March: 85.02%).

The trial also showed that the addition of lead nitrate had a significant impact on the leach kinetics of the ore, with recoveries that normally would take 24 hours being achieved in just 12 hours.

The company said the successful trial proves the addition of lead nitrate will be beneficial, both from a recovery and reduction in resonance time, particularly as the throughput is ramped up to the 6.5mtpa target level.

CGA said it is completing a detailed study for the expansion of the plant throughput at Masbate to 6.5 Mtpa.

http://www.proactiveinvestors.com.au/companies/news/6282/cga-mining-benefits-from-adding-lead-nitrate-to-masbate-gold-processing-6282.html