NGEx Minerals Reports Positive Preliminary Metallurgical Results from Lunahuasi
Original announcement by orestocks on
- Company
- NGEx Minerals Ltd.
- Ticker
- NGEX.TO
- Exchange
- Unavailable
- Region
- San Juan Province, Argentina
- Primary commodity
- Copper
- Secondary commodities
- Gold, Silver, Arsenic
- Document categories
- Metallurgy
- Extracted
- 2026-09-15 10:21:55 UTC
Analysis by Minestarters Atlas
Minestarters Atlas analysis
Summary
NGEx Minerals reported positive preliminary metallurgical results from its Lunahuasi Project in Argentina. Flotation testing achieved high copper recoveries (up to 94.2%) and successful arsenic removal using the GlassLock™ process, producing clean concentrates with significantly reduced arsenic levels.
Reasoning: Preliminary metallurgical results show high copper and gold recoveries and a viable pathway to manage arsenic penalties through pyrolysis.
Positive factors
- Strong copper recoveries (92.0% to 94.2%)
- Successful arsenic removal via GlassLock™ process
- Simple flotation flowsheet with no cleaning stages required
- High concentrate grades achieved post-treatment
Negative factors
- Initial concentrates contain arsenic above penalty limits
- Requires additional variability and scale-up work
Facts used in scoring: 9
Classification and evidence
Free Millingpositive
Simple, clean ore amenable to standard processing without oxidation.
Why it applies: Simple mineralogy and relatively coarse material reported, allowing for simple sequential flotation without cleaning stages.
Evidence · text
“No cleaning stages required due to simple mineralogy and relatively coarse material”
Refractory Orenegative
Ore requires oxidation/pressure treatment before recovery — a processing and recovery risk.
Why it applies: Initial copper concentrates contained arsenic at levels above typical penalty thresholds, requiring specialized treatment.
Evidence · text
“initial copper concentrates contained arsenic at levels above typical penalty thresholds”
Mill Routeneutral
Processing via mill or concentrator (CIL, CIP, tank leach, flotation).
Why it applies: the document describes a flotation route ("flotation")
POX/BIOX Routeneutral
Pressure or bio-oxidation for refractory ore — high CAPEX and OPEX.
Why it applies: the document describes a pox_biox route ("POX")
Multi-Domain Testedpositive
Variability across ore domains (oxide, transition, fresh) has been addressed.
Why it applies: 3 distinct composites were tested
Extracted facts
Stored fact records: 9. Some facts used in scoring do not have a stored record.
Metallurgical Results (9)
flotationLunahuasi · copperRecovery: 94.2 %Head Grade: 4.16Head Grade Unit: %View all detailsHide details
Identity
- Project
- Lunahuasi
- Commodity
- copper
- Region
- argentina
- Reported Region
- San Juan Province, Argentina
- Ticker
- NGEX.TO
Test Work
- Program Status
- preliminary
- Test Type
- flotation
- Processing Route
- simple sequential flotation
- Sample
- Mars composite
Recovery
- Recovery
- 94.2 %
- Recovery Basis
- actual_test
- Head Grade
- 4.16
- Head Grade Unit
- %
Lab
- Laboratory
- Base Metallurgical Laboratories Ltd.
Review
- Needs Review
- No
- Historical
- No
Dates
- Event date
- 2026-09-15T00:00:00.000Z
Reasoning: 94.2% copper recovery is strong for flotation.
Positive factors
- High recovery
Evidence · table
“94.2”
Context: 27.8
Tags used in scoring
Mill Routeneutral
Processing via mill or concentrator (CIL, CIP, tank leach, flotation).
Why it applies: processing_route matches the flotation signal
High Recoverypositive
Recovery at or above the exceptional band for the commodity and processing route.
Why it applies: 94.2% is at or above the exceptional band (92%)
flotationLunahuasi · goldRecovery: 87.1 %Head Grade: 5.38Head Grade Unit: g/tView all detailsHide details
Identity
- Project
- Lunahuasi
- Commodity
- gold
- Region
- argentina
- Reported Region
- San Juan Province, Argentina
- Ticker
- NGEX.TO
Test Work
- Program Status
- preliminary
- Test Type
- flotation
- Processing Route
- simple sequential flotation
- Sample
- Mars composite
Recovery
- Recovery
- 87.1 %
- Recovery Basis
- actual_test
- Head Grade
- 5.38
- Head Grade Unit
- g/t
Lab
- Laboratory
- Base Metallurgical Laboratories Ltd.
Review
- Needs Review
- No
- Historical
- No
Dates
- Event date
- 2026-09-15T00:00:00.000Z
Reasoning: 87.1% gold recovery is strong.
Positive factors
- High gold recovery
Evidence · table
“87.1”
Context: 94.2
Tags used in scoring
Mill Routeneutral
Processing via mill or concentrator (CIL, CIP, tank leach, flotation).
Why it applies: processing_route matches the flotation signal
flotationLunahuasi · silverRecovery: 88.3 %Head Grade: 36.8Head Grade Unit: g/tView all detailsHide details
Identity
- Project
- Lunahuasi
- Commodity
- silver
- Region
- argentina
- Reported Region
- San Juan Province, Argentina
- Ticker
- NGEX.TO
Test Work
- Program Status
- preliminary
- Test Type
- flotation
- Processing Route
- simple sequential flotation
- Sample
- Mars composite
Recovery
- Recovery
- 88.3 %
- Recovery Basis
- actual_test
- Head Grade
- 36.8
- Head Grade Unit
- g/t
Lab
- Laboratory
- Base Metallurgical Laboratories Ltd.
Review
- Needs Review
- No
- Historical
- No
Dates
- Event date
- 2026-09-15T00:00:00.000Z
Reasoning: 88.3% silver recovery is strong.
Positive factors
- High silver recovery
Evidence · table
“88.3”
Context: 94.2
Tags used in scoring
Mill Routeneutral
Processing via mill or concentrator (CIL, CIP, tank leach, flotation).
Why it applies: processing_route matches the flotation signal
flotationLunahuasi · copperRecovery: 92 %Head Grade: 3.85Head Grade Unit: %View all detailsHide details
Identity
- Project
- Lunahuasi
- Commodity
- copper
- Region
- argentina
- Reported Region
- San Juan Province, Argentina
- Ticker
- NGEX.TO
Test Work
- Program Status
- preliminary
- Test Type
- flotation
- Processing Route
- simple sequential flotation
- Sample
- Saturn composite
Recovery
- Recovery
- 92 %
- Recovery Basis
- actual_test
- Head Grade
- 3.85
- Head Grade Unit
- %
Lab
- Laboratory
- Base Metallurgical Laboratories Ltd.
Review
- Needs Review
- No
- Historical
- No
Dates
- Event date
- 2026-09-15T00:00:00.000Z
Reasoning: 92.0% copper recovery is strong.
Positive factors
- High recovery
Evidence · table
“92.0”
Context: 23.8
Tags used in scoring
Mill Routeneutral
Processing via mill or concentrator (CIL, CIP, tank leach, flotation).
Why it applies: processing_route matches the flotation signal
High Recoverypositive
Recovery at or above the exceptional band for the commodity and processing route.
Why it applies: 92% is at or above the exceptional band (92%)
flotationLunahuasi · goldRecovery: 79.6 %Head Grade: 3.5Head Grade Unit: g/tView all detailsHide details
Identity
- Project
- Lunahuasi
- Commodity
- gold
- Region
- argentina
- Reported Region
- San Juan Province, Argentina
- Ticker
- NGEX.TO
Test Work
- Program Status
- preliminary
- Test Type
- flotation
- Processing Route
- simple sequential flotation
- Sample
- Saturn composite
Recovery
- Recovery
- 79.6 %
- Recovery Basis
- actual_test
- Head Grade
- 3.5
- Head Grade Unit
- g/t
Lab
- Laboratory
- Base Metallurgical Laboratories Ltd.
Review
- Needs Review
- No
- Historical
- No
Dates
- Event date
- 2026-09-15T00:00:00.000Z
Reasoning: 79.6% gold recovery is moderate.
Evidence · table
“79.6”
Context: 23.8
Tags used in scoring
Mill Routeneutral
Processing via mill or concentrator (CIL, CIP, tank leach, flotation).
Why it applies: processing_route matches the flotation signal
Low Recoverynegative
Recovery below the weak band for the commodity and processing route.
Why it applies: 79.6% is below the weak band (80%)
flotationLunahuasi · silverRecovery: 84 %Head Grade: 57.1Head Grade Unit: g/tView all detailsHide details
Identity
- Project
- Lunahuasi
- Commodity
- silver
- Region
- argentina
- Reported Region
- San Juan Province, Argentina
- Ticker
- NGEX.TO
Test Work
- Program Status
- preliminary
- Test Type
- flotation
- Processing Route
- simple sequential flotation
- Sample
- Saturn composite
Recovery
- Recovery
- 84 %
- Recovery Basis
- actual_test
- Head Grade
- 57.1
- Head Grade Unit
- g/t
Lab
- Laboratory
- Base Metallurgical Laboratories Ltd.
Review
- Needs Review
- No
- Historical
- No
Dates
- Event date
- 2026-09-15T00:00:00.000Z
Reasoning: 84.0% silver recovery is strong.
Positive factors
- High silver recovery
Evidence · table
“84.0”
Context: 23.8
Tags used in scoring
Mill Routeneutral
Processing via mill or concentrator (CIL, CIP, tank leach, flotation).
Why it applies: processing_route matches the flotation signal
flotationLunahuasi · copperRecovery: 93.6 %Head Grade: 2.51Head Grade Unit: %View all detailsHide details
Identity
- Project
- Lunahuasi
- Commodity
- copper
- Region
- argentina
- Reported Region
- San Juan Province, Argentina
- Ticker
- NGEX.TO
Test Work
- Program Status
- preliminary
- Test Type
- flotation
- Processing Route
- simple sequential flotation
- Sample
- Jupiter composite
Recovery
- Recovery
- 93.6 %
- Recovery Basis
- actual_test
- Head Grade
- 2.51
- Head Grade Unit
- %
Lab
- Laboratory
- Base Metallurgical Laboratories Ltd.
Review
- Needs Review
- No
- Historical
- No
Dates
- Event date
- 2026-09-15T00:00:00.000Z
Reasoning: 93.6% copper recovery is strong.
Positive factors
- High recovery
Evidence · table
“93.6”
Context: 17.6
Tags used in scoring
Mill Routeneutral
Processing via mill or concentrator (CIL, CIP, tank leach, flotation).
Why it applies: processing_route matches the flotation signal
High Recoverypositive
Recovery at or above the exceptional band for the commodity and processing route.
Why it applies: 93.6% is at or above the exceptional band (92%)
flotationLunahuasi · goldRecovery: 61.1 %Head Grade: 1.78Head Grade Unit: g/tView all detailsHide details
Identity
- Project
- Lunahuasi
- Commodity
- gold
- Region
- argentina
- Reported Region
- San Juan Province, Argentina
- Ticker
- NGEX.TO
Test Work
- Program Status
- preliminary
- Test Type
- flotation
- Processing Route
- simple sequential flotation
- Sample
- Jupiter composite
Recovery
- Recovery
- 61.1 %
- Recovery Basis
- actual_test
- Head Grade
- 1.78
- Head Grade Unit
- g/t
Lab
- Laboratory
- Base Metallurgical Laboratories Ltd.
Review
- Needs Review
- No
- Historical
- No
Dates
- Event date
- 2026-09-15T00:00:00.000Z
Reasoning: 61.1% gold recovery is weak for flotation.
Negative factors
- Low gold recovery
Evidence · table
“61.1”
Context: 17.6
Tags used in scoring
Mill Routeneutral
Processing via mill or concentrator (CIL, CIP, tank leach, flotation).
Why it applies: processing_route matches the flotation signal
Low Recoverynegative
Recovery below the weak band for the commodity and processing route.
Why it applies: 61.1% is below the weak band (80%)
flotationLunahuasi · silverRecovery: 80.2 %Head Grade: 60.6Head Grade Unit: g/tView all detailsHide details
Identity
- Project
- Lunahuasi
- Commodity
- silver
- Region
- argentina
- Reported Region
- San Juan Province, Argentina
- Ticker
- NGEX.TO
Test Work
- Program Status
- preliminary
- Test Type
- flotation
- Processing Route
- simple sequential flotation
- Sample
- Jupiter composite
Recovery
- Recovery
- 80.2 %
- Recovery Basis
- actual_test
- Head Grade
- 60.6
- Head Grade Unit
- g/t
Lab
- Laboratory
- Base Metallurgical Laboratories Ltd.
Review
- Needs Review
- No
- Historical
- No
Dates
- Event date
- 2026-09-15T00:00:00.000Z
Reasoning: 80.2% silver recovery is strong.
Positive factors
- Good silver recovery
Evidence · table
“80.2”
Context: 17.6
Tags used in scoring
Mill Routeneutral
Processing via mill or concentrator (CIL, CIP, tank leach, flotation).
Why it applies: processing_route matches the flotation signal
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.