# NorthWest Reports Significant Ore Sorting Results at Kwanika

Canonical Atlas analysis: https://atlas-extractions.minestarters.com/news/northwest-reports-significant-ore-sorting-results-at-kwanika--6c966a1b-13ac-47be-bd44-30ea927c613c

Original source: https://money.tmx.com/en/quote/NWST/news/6515262434794959/northwest-reports-significant-ore-sorting-results-at-kwanika

Publisher: tmx

Original announcement: 2026-02-23T11:30:00.000Z

Analysis by Minestarters Atlas

Atlas analysis published: Unknown date

Atlas analysis updated: Unknown date

- Company: NorthWest Copper Corp.

- Ticker: NWST

- Exchange: TSX

- Region: British Columbia

- Primary commodity: Copper

- Secondary commodities: Gold, Silver

- Document categories: Metallurgy

- Extracted: 2026-09-16 15:04:55 UTC

Narrative sentiment: 0.80 · Bullish

## Minestarters Atlas summary

NorthWest Copper Corp. reported successful XRT ore sorting test results at its Kwanika project, demonstrating significant grade upgrades for copper, gold, and silver. The results show high metal recoveries and the ability to reject barren material, potentially reducing capital costs and environmental impact in the upcoming PEA.

Reasoning: Positive ore sorting results demonstrate significant grade upgrades and high recoveries, which could improve project economics in the upcoming PEA.

- Positive factor: Significant grade upgrade in sorted product

- Positive factor: High metal recoveries achieved via XRT sorting

- Positive factor: Potential for reduced CAPEX and environmental footprint

- Positive factor: Creation of a low-grade stockpile for later processing

Facts used in scoring: 6

## Classification and evidence

**Mill Route**

Polarity: neutral

Definition: Processing via mill or concentrator \(CIL, CIP, tank leach, flotation\).

Why it applies: The test work evaluates sorting technology to improve mill feed grades ahead of a processing plant.

Evidence · text

> The program evaluated the use of sorting technology to reject barren material ahead of a processing plant.

**High Recovery**

Polarity: positive

Definition: Recovery at or above the exceptional band for the commodity and processing route.

Why it applies: Copper, gold, and silver recoveries are all at or above the 85-90% threshold for the commodity.

Evidence · text

> recoveries of approximately 90.2% Cu, 88.3% Au and 90.0% Ag

**Multi-Domain Tested**

Polarity: positive

Definition: Variability across ore domains \(oxide, transition, fresh\) has been addressed.

Why it applies: 2 distinct composites were tested

## Extracted facts

Stored fact records: 6. Some facts used in scoring do not have a stored record.

## Metallurgical Results (6)

### XRT sorting

[Link to this fact](https://atlas-extractions.minestarters.com/news/northwest-reports-significant-ore-sorting-results-at-kwanika--6c966a1b-13ac-47be-bd44-30ea927c613c#fact-metallurgical-facts-0)

Kwanika · copper

#### Identity

- Project: Kwanika
- Commodity: copper
- Region: canada\_bc
- Reported Region: British Columbia
- Ticker: NWST

#### Test Work

- Program Status: preliminary
- Test Type: XRT sorting
- Processing Route: XRT sorting
- Sample: Sorter + Fines \(recombined mill feed\)

#### Recovery

- Recovery: 90.2 %
- Head Grade: 1
- Head Grade Unit: %

#### Lab

- Laboratory: Saskatchewan Research Council
- Consultant: Canenco Consulting Corp.

#### Review

- Needs Review: No
- Historical: No

#### Dates

- Event date: 2026-02-23T00:00:00.000Z

Reasoning: 90.2% recovery is strong for an XRT sorting process.

- Positive factor: High recovery for copper

Evidence · text

> final mill feed grading approximately 1.0% Cu, 1.85g/t Au, 3.25g/t Ag in only 75.0% of the mass, with recoveries of approximately 90.2% Cu, 88.3% Au and 90.0% Ag.

### XRT sorting

[Link to this fact](https://atlas-extractions.minestarters.com/news/northwest-reports-significant-ore-sorting-results-at-kwanika--6c966a1b-13ac-47be-bd44-30ea927c613c#fact-metallurgical-facts-1)

Kwanika · gold

#### Identity

- Project: Kwanika
- Commodity: gold
- Region: canada\_bc
- Reported Region: British Columbia
- Ticker: NWST

#### Test Work

- Program Status: preliminary
- Test Type: XRT sorting
- Processing Route: XRT sorting
- Sample: Sorter + Fines \(recombined mill feed\)

#### Recovery

- Recovery: 88.3 %
- Head Grade: 1.85
- Head Grade Unit: g/t

#### Lab

- Laboratory: Saskatchewan Research Council
- Consultant: Canenco Consulting Corp.

#### Review

- Needs Review: No
- Historical: No

#### Dates

- Event date: 2026-02-23T00:00:00.000Z

Reasoning: 88.3% recovery is strong for gold in this context.

- Positive factor: High gold recovery

Evidence · text

> final mill feed grading approximately 1.0% Cu, 1.85g/t Au, 3.25g/t Ag in only 75.0% of the mass, with recoveries of approximately 90.2% Cu, 88.3% Au and 90.0% Ag.

### XRT sorting

[Link to this fact](https://atlas-extractions.minestarters.com/news/northwest-reports-significant-ore-sorting-results-at-kwanika--6c966a1b-13ac-47be-bd44-30ea927c613c#fact-metallurgical-facts-2)

Kwanika · silver

#### Identity

- Project: Kwanika
- Commodity: silver
- Region: canada\_bc
- Reported Region: British Columbia
- Ticker: NWST

#### Test Work

- Program Status: preliminary
- Test Type: XRT sorting
- Processing Route: XRT sorting
- Sample: Sorter + Fines \(recombined mill feed\)

#### Recovery

- Recovery: 90 %
- Head Grade: 3.25
- Head Grade Unit: g/t

#### Lab

- Laboratory: Saskatchewan Research Council
- Consultant: Canenco Consulting Corp.

#### Review

- Needs Review: No
- Historical: No

#### Dates

- Event date: 2026-02-23T00:00:00.000Z

Reasoning: 90.0% recovery is strong for silver.

- Positive factor: High silver recovery

Evidence · text

> final mill feed grading approximately 1.0% Cu, 1.85g/t Au, 3.25g/t Ag in only 75.0% of the mass, with recoveries of approximately 90.2% Cu, 88.3% Au and 90.0% Ag.

#### Tags used in scoring

**High Recovery**

Polarity: positive

Definition: Recovery at or above the exceptional band for the commodity and processing route.

Why it applies: 90% is at or above the exceptional band \(90%\)

### XRT sorting

[Link to this fact](https://atlas-extractions.minestarters.com/news/northwest-reports-significant-ore-sorting-results-at-kwanika--6c966a1b-13ac-47be-bd44-30ea927c613c#fact-metallurgical-facts-3)

Kwanika · copper

#### Identity

- Project: Kwanika
- Commodity: copper
- Region: canada\_bc
- Reported Region: British Columbia
- Ticker: NWST

#### Test Work

- Program Status: preliminary
- Test Type: XRT sorting
- Processing Route: XRT sorting
- Sample: Sorted Product

#### Recovery

- Head Grade: 1.1
- Head Grade Unit: %

#### Lab

- Laboratory: Saskatchewan Research Council
- Consultant: Canenco Consulting Corp.

#### Review

- Needs Review: No
- Historical: No

#### Dates

- Event date: 2026-02-23T00:00:00.000Z

Reasoning: Sorted product grade of 1.1% Cu is a significant upgrade from 0.83% feed.

- Positive factor: Significant grade upgrade

Evidence · table

> 1.10

Context: 164

### XRT sorting

[Link to this fact](https://atlas-extractions.minestarters.com/news/northwest-reports-significant-ore-sorting-results-at-kwanika--6c966a1b-13ac-47be-bd44-30ea927c613c#fact-metallurgical-facts-4)

Kwanika · gold

#### Identity

- Project: Kwanika
- Commodity: gold
- Region: canada\_bc
- Reported Region: British Columbia
- Ticker: NWST

#### Test Work

- Program Status: preliminary
- Test Type: XRT sorting
- Processing Route: XRT sorting
- Sample: Sorted Product

#### Recovery

- Head Grade: 2
- Head Grade Unit: g/t

#### Lab

- Laboratory: Saskatchewan Research Council
- Consultant: Canenco Consulting Corp.

#### Review

- Needs Review: No
- Historical: No

#### Dates

- Event date: 2026-02-23T00:00:00.000Z

Reasoning: Sorted product grade of 2.0 g/t Au is a significant upgrade from 1.57 g/t feed.

- Positive factor: Significant grade upgrade

Evidence · table

> 2.00

Context: 164

### XRT sorting

[Link to this fact](https://atlas-extractions.minestarters.com/news/northwest-reports-significant-ore-sorting-results-at-kwanika--6c966a1b-13ac-47be-bd44-30ea927c613c#fact-metallurgical-facts-5)

Kwanika · silver

#### Identity

- Project: Kwanika
- Commodity: silver
- Region: canada\_bc
- Reported Region: British Columbia
- Ticker: NWST

#### Test Work

- Program Status: preliminary
- Test Type: XRT sorting
- Processing Route: XRT sorting
- Sample: Sorted Product

#### Recovery

- Head Grade: 3.1
- Head Grade Unit: g/t

#### Lab

- Laboratory: Saskatchewan Research Council
- Consultant: Canenco Consulting Corp.

#### Review

- Needs Review: No
- Historical: No

#### Dates

- Event date: 2026-02-23T00:00:00.000Z

Reasoning: Sorted product grade of 3.1 g/t Ag is an upgrade from 2.47 g/t feed.

- Positive factor: Significant grade upgrade

Evidence · table

> 3.10

Context: 164

## 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.