Lahontan Reports Cyanide Recoveries of 81% for Gold and 60% for Silver at West Santa Fe
Original announcement by tmx on
- Company
- Lahontan Gold Corp.
- Ticker
- LG
- Exchange
- TSX
- Region
- Nevada
- Primary commodity
- Gold
- Secondary commodities
- Silver
- Document categories
- Resource update, Metallurgy
- Extracted
- 2026-09-18 06:48:14 UTC
Analysis by Minestarters Atlas
Minestarters Atlas analysis
Summary
Lahontan Gold Corp. has reported high cyanide extractable gold (81%) and silver (60%) recoveries from pulp samples of its 2025 RC drilling program at the West Santa Fe project. These results validate previous metallurgical testing and support the project's amenability to heap leach processing.
Reasoning: The announcement reports high cyanide extractable gold (81%) and silver (60%) from recent RC drilling pulp samples, validating the project's suitability for heap leach processing and exceeding historical benchmarks.
Positive factors
- High cyanide extraction ratios for both gold and silver
- Results corroborate and exceed historical metallurgical expectations
- QA/QC protocols are clearly disclosed with certified lab usage
- Amenability to heap leach processing confirmed
Negative factors
- Metallurgical results are based on pulp samples from RC drilling, not core
Facts used in scoring: 6
Classification and evidence
High Recoverypositive
Recovery at or above the exceptional band for the commodity and processing route.
Why it applies: Gold cyanide extraction of 81% is in the strong/exceptional band for heap leach routes.
Evidence · text
“CN extractable gold averaged 81%”
Heap Leach Routeneutral
Processing via heap leach — lower CAPEX and OPEX, lower recovery expected.
Why it applies: The testing specifically mimics potential recoveries utilizing CN heap leach processing.
Evidence · text
“mimics potential gold and silver recoveries utilizing CN heap leach processing”
QA/QC Disclosedpositive · Story-specific tag
Release includes QA/QC disclosure — certified lab, QP sign-off, or stated methods (blanks, standards, duplicates).
Why it applies: Release includes detailed QA/QC protocols, including CRM and blank insertion rates and lab name.
Evidence · text
“The QA/QC program consisted of the insertion of coarse blanks and Certified Reference Materials (CRM)”
Indicated Resourcepositive
Reasonable geological confidence based on adequate drilling; continuity can be assumed. Basis for Probable Reserves.
Why it applies: The document mentions an existing Indicated Mineral Resource for the Santa Fe Mine project.
Evidence · text
“has a Canadian National Instrument 43-101 compliant Indicated Mineral Resource of 1,539,000 oz Au Eq”
Mill Routeneutral
Processing via mill or concentrator (CIL, CIP, tank leach, flotation).
Why it applies: the document describes a mill_cil route ("CIP")
Single Domain Onlynegative
Testing limited to one composite or domain — representativeness not established.
Why it applies: only one composite was tested
Extracted facts
Stored fact records: 6. Some facts used in scoring do not have a stored record.
Resource Estimates (4)
indicatedSanta Fe Mine · goldTonnes: 48393000Grade: 0.92Grade Unit: g/tContained Metal: 1539000Contained Unit: oz au eqView all detailsHide details
Identity
- Project
- Santa Fe Mine
- Commodity
- gold
- Region
- usa_nv
- Reported Region
- Nevada
- Ticker
- LG
Resource scope
- Estimate type
- resource
- Reporting standards
- ni_43_101
- Resource group id
- resource:b9ec7552fb36cc9822bf
Resource Data
- Category
- indicated
- Tonnes
- 48393000
- Grade
- 0.92
- Grade Unit
- g/t
- Contained Metal
- 1539000
- Contained Unit
- oz au eq
Review
- Needs Review
- No
- Historical
- No
Dates
- Event date
- 2026-04-13T00:00:00.000Z
Reasoning: Existing resource mentioned for context.
Evidence · text
“Indicated Mineral Resource of 1,539,000 oz Au Eq (48,393,000 tonnes grading 0.92 g/t Au and 7.18 g/t Ag, together grading 0.99 g/t Au Eq)”
Tags used in scoring
Indicated Resourcepositive
Reasonable geological confidence based on adequate drilling; continuity can be assumed. Basis for Probable Reserves.
Why it applies: category is "indicated"
Cut-off Undisclosednegative
High-grade interval reported without stating the cut-off grade used for compositing.
Why it applies: no cutoff_grade was stated
NI 43-101 Compliantpositive
Resource estimate prepared in compliance with NI 43-101 (Canada) — high reporting standard.
Why it applies: reporting_standards includes ni_43_101
indicatedSanta Fe Mine · silverTonnes: 48393000Grade: 7.18Grade Unit: g/tContained Metal: 1539000Contained Unit: oz au eqView all detailsHide details
Identity
- Project
- Santa Fe Mine
- Commodity
- silver
- Region
- usa_nv
- Reported Region
- Nevada
- Ticker
- LG
Resource scope
- Estimate type
- resource
- Reporting standards
- ni_43_101
- Resource group id
- resource:b9ec7552fb36cc9822bf
Resource Data
- Category
- indicated
- Tonnes
- 48393000
- Grade
- 7.18
- Grade Unit
- g/t
- Contained Metal
- 1539000
- Contained Unit
- oz au eq
Review
- Needs Review
- No
- Historical
- No
Dates
- Event date
- 2026-04-13T00:00:00.000Z
Reasoning: Existing resource mentioned for context.
Evidence · text
“Indicated Mineral Resource of 1,539,000 oz Au Eq (48,393,000 tonnes grading 0.92 g/t Au and 7.18 g/t Ag, together grading 0.99 g/t Au Eq)”
Tags used in scoring
Indicated Resourcepositive
Reasonable geological confidence based on adequate drilling; continuity can be assumed. Basis for Probable Reserves.
Why it applies: category is "indicated"
Cut-off Undisclosednegative
High-grade interval reported without stating the cut-off grade used for compositing.
Why it applies: no cutoff_grade was stated
NI 43-101 Compliantpositive
Resource estimate prepared in compliance with NI 43-101 (Canada) — high reporting standard.
Why it applies: reporting_standards includes ni_43_101
inferredSanta Fe Mine · goldTonnes: 16760000Grade: 0.74Grade Unit: g/tContained Metal: 411000Contained Unit: oz au eqView all detailsHide details
Identity
- Project
- Santa Fe Mine
- Commodity
- gold
- Region
- usa_nv
- Reported Region
- Nevada
- Ticker
- LG
Resource scope
- Estimate type
- resource
- Reporting standards
- ni_43_101
- Resource group id
- resource:3a82ec052526ee1bcd95
Resource Data
- Category
- inferred
- Tonnes
- 16760000
- Grade
- 0.74
- Grade Unit
- g/t
- Contained Metal
- 411000
- Contained Unit
- oz au eq
Review
- Needs Review
- No
- Historical
- No
Dates
- Event date
- 2026-04-13T00:00:00.000Z
Reasoning: Existing resource mentioned for context.
Evidence · text
“Inferred Mineral Resource of 411,000 oz Au Eq (16,760,000 grading 0.74 g/t Au and 3.25 g/t Ag, together grading 0.76 g/t Au Eq)”
Tags used in scoring
Inferred Resourcenegative
Speculative category — limited drilling, geological continuity assumed but not confirmed. Cannot support economic studies alone.
Why it applies: category is "inferred"
Cut-off Undisclosednegative
High-grade interval reported without stating the cut-off grade used for compositing.
Why it applies: no cutoff_grade was stated
NI 43-101 Compliantpositive
Resource estimate prepared in compliance with NI 43-101 (Canada) — high reporting standard.
Why it applies: reporting_standards includes ni_43_101
inferredSanta Fe Mine · silverTonnes: 16760000Grade: 3.25Grade Unit: g/tContained Metal: 411000Contained Unit: oz au eqView all detailsHide details
Identity
- Project
- Santa Fe Mine
- Commodity
- silver
- Region
- usa_nv
- Reported Region
- Nevada
- Ticker
- LG
Resource scope
- Estimate type
- resource
- Reporting standards
- ni_43_101
- Resource group id
- resource:3a82ec052526ee1bcd95
Resource Data
- Category
- inferred
- Tonnes
- 16760000
- Grade
- 3.25
- Grade Unit
- g/t
- Contained Metal
- 411000
- Contained Unit
- oz au eq
Review
- Needs Review
- No
- Historical
- No
Dates
- Event date
- 2026-04-13T00:00:00.000Z
Reasoning: Existing resource mentioned for context.
Evidence · text
“Inferred Mineral Resource of 411,000 oz Au Eq (16,760,000 grading 0.74 g/t Au and 3.25 g/t Ag, together grading 0.76 g/t Au Eq)”
Tags used in scoring
Inferred Resourcenegative
Speculative category — limited drilling, geological continuity assumed but not confirmed. Cannot support economic studies alone.
Why it applies: category is "inferred"
Cut-off Undisclosednegative
High-grade interval reported without stating the cut-off grade used for compositing.
Why it applies: no cutoff_grade was stated
NI 43-101 Compliantpositive
Resource estimate prepared in compliance with NI 43-101 (Canada) — high reporting standard.
Why it applies: reporting_standards includes ni_43_101
Metallurgical Results (2)
cyanide extractionWest Santa Fe · goldRecovery: 81 %View all detailsHide details
Identity
- Project
- West Santa Fe
- Commodity
- gold
- Region
- usa_nv
- Reported Region
- Nevada
- Ticker
- LG
Test Work
- Program Status
- preliminary
- Test Type
- cyanide extraction
- Processing Route
- CN heap leach
- Sample
- pulp samples from 2025 RC drilling program
Recovery
- Recovery
- 81 %
- Recovery Basis
- actual_test
Lab
- Laboratory
- American Assay Laboratories (AAL)
Review
- Needs Review
- No
- Historical
- No
Dates
- Event date
- 2026-04-13T00:00:00.000Z
Reasoning: 81% recovery is a strong result for heap leach amenability.
Positive factors
- Exceeds historical 70% gold recovery benchmark
Evidence · text
“CN extractable gold averaged 81%”
Tags used in scoring
Heap Leach Routeneutral
Processing via heap leach — lower CAPEX and OPEX, lower recovery expected.
Why it applies: processing_route matches the heap_leach signal
High Recoverypositive
Recovery at or above the exceptional band for the commodity and processing route.
Why it applies: 81% is at or above the exceptional band (75%)
cyanide extractionWest Santa Fe · silverRecovery: 60 %View all detailsHide details
Identity
- Project
- West Santa Fe
- Commodity
- silver
- Region
- usa_nv
- Reported Region
- Nevada
- Ticker
- LG
Test Work
- Program Status
- preliminary
- Test Type
- cyanide extraction
- Processing Route
- CN heap leach
- Sample
- pulp samples from 2025 RC drilling program
Recovery
- Recovery
- 60 %
- Recovery Basis
- actual_test
Lab
- Laboratory
- American Assay Laboratories (AAL)
Review
- Needs Review
- No
- Historical
- No
Dates
- Event date
- 2026-04-13T00:00:00.000Z
Reasoning: 60% silver recovery is high for cyanide heap leach.
Positive factors
- Exceeds historical 50% silver recovery benchmark
Evidence · text
“CN extractable silver averaged 60%”
Tags used in scoring
Heap Leach Routeneutral
Processing via heap leach — lower CAPEX and OPEX, lower recovery expected.
Why it applies: processing_route matches the heap_leach signal
Low Recoverynegative
Recovery below the weak band for the commodity and processing route.
Why it applies: 60% is below the weak band (75%)
How Atlas produces this analysis
Minestarters Atlas uses automated extraction to summarize mining announcements, identify reported measurements, and classify supporting evidence. Sentiment reflects the extracted narrative and classification rules; it is an interpretation, not a reported measurement. Evidence quotes and context are provided where available. Missing data, low-confidence results, and review flags indicate limitations. Check the original publisher announcement before relying on an interpretation.