Positive Metallurgical Results from Initial Testwork with Dundee Sustainable Technologies

Original announcement by tmx on

Company
Freegold Ventures Limited
Ticker
FVL
Exchange
TSX
Region
Alaska
Primary commodity
Gold
Secondary commodities
Arsenic, Sulfur
Document categories
Metallurgy, Resource update
Extracted
2026-09-12 04:46:38 UTC

Analysis by Minestarters Atlas

Minestarters Atlas analysis

Summary

Freegold Ventures reported successful metallurgical testwork using the GlassLock Process™ on Golden Summit concentrate, achieving a 98% reduction in arsenic content and a 47% increase in gold concentrate grade. The results support the development of a saleable, direct-to-smelter concentrate and will inform the upcoming Pre-Feasibility Study.

Reasoning: The GlassLock Process™ successfully addressed high arsenic levels (7.34% to 0.17%) while upgrading gold concentrate grade, significantly de-risking the project's metallurgical flowsheet for the upcoming PFS.

Positive factors

  • Significant arsenic reduction (98%)
  • Gold concentrate grade upgrade (47%)
  • High recovery (>90%) for oxidation processes
  • Produces stable, non-toxic arsenic byproduct

Negative factors

  • Testing performed on a small 1kg sample

Facts used in scoring: 5

Classification and evidence

High Recoverypositive

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

Why it applies: Three oxidation processes tested prior to GlassLock showed recoveries exceeding 90%.

Evidence · text

“The three oxidation processes tested prior to the GlassLock Process™, have all shown recoveries exceeding 90%.”

Resource Updateneutral

Revised estimate for an existing resource — compare to prior to assess progress.

Why it applies: The document references the July 2025 MRE and discusses upcoming revisions based on 2025/2026 drilling.

Evidence · text

“The data from the 2025 and early 2026 drilling programs will be used to revise the mineral resource estimate (MRE) published in July 2025”

Mill Routeneutral

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

Why it applies: the document describes a mill_cil route ("CIL")

Gravity Routeneutral

Gravity separation forms a material part of the flowsheet.

Why it applies: the document describes a gravity route ("gravity")

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: 5. Some facts used in scoring do not have a stored record.

Resource Estimates (2)

indicatedGolden Summit Project · goldTonnes: 34150000000Grade: 1.24Grade Unit: g/tContained Metal: 13600000Contained Unit: ozHistorical resultNeeds review: historical_restatementView all details
Link to this fact

Identity

Project
Golden Summit Project
Commodity
gold
Region
usa_ak
Reported Region
Alaska
Ticker
FVL

Resource scope

Estimate type
resource
Resource group id
resource:fbabe1d0f24a582c05ec

Resource Data

Category
indicated
Tonnes
34150000000
Grade
1.24
Grade Unit
g/t
Contained Metal
13600000
Contained Unit
oz
Cutoff Grade
0.5
Cutoff Unit
g/t

Review

Needs Review
Yes
Review Reason
historical_restatement
Historical
Yes
Historical Source Date
2025-07-01T00:00:00.000Z

Dates

Event date
2025-12-16T00:00:00.000Z

Reasoning: Historical resource stated for comparison.

Evidence · text

“indicated 17.2 million ounces at 1.24 g/t Au (indicated)”

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 Disclosedpositive

Cut-off grade used for resource reporting is clearly stated, enabling like-for-like comparison.

Why it applies: cutoff_grade is stated

PFS-Supportingneutral

Resource estimate prepared to support a Pre-Feasibility Study — requires adequate M&I component.

Why it applies: the release names the study this estimate supports

DFS-Supportingneutral

Resource estimate prepared to support a Definitive Feasibility Study — requires high M&I confidence.

Why it applies: the release names the study this estimate supports

inferredGolden Summit Project · goldTonnes: 23750000000Grade: 1.04Grade Unit: g/tContained Metal: 7700000Contained Unit: ozHistorical resultNeeds review: historical_restatementView all details
Link to this fact

Identity

Project
Golden Summit Project
Commodity
gold
Region
usa_ak
Reported Region
Alaska
Ticker
FVL

Resource scope

Estimate type
resource
Resource group id
resource:9076d88c96188dcae162

Resource Data

Category
inferred
Tonnes
23750000000
Grade
1.04
Grade Unit
g/t
Contained Metal
7700000
Contained Unit
oz
Cutoff Grade
0.5
Cutoff Unit
g/t

Review

Needs Review
Yes
Review Reason
historical_restatement
Historical
Yes
Historical Source Date
2025-07-01T00:00:00.000Z

Dates

Event date
2025-12-16T00:00:00.000Z

Reasoning: Historical resource stated for comparison.

Evidence · text

“11.9 million ounces at 1.04 g/t Au (inferred)”

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 Disclosedpositive

Cut-off grade used for resource reporting is clearly stated, enabling like-for-like comparison.

Why it applies: cutoff_grade is stated

PFS-Supportingneutral

Resource estimate prepared to support a Pre-Feasibility Study — requires adequate M&I component.

Why it applies: the release names the study this estimate supports

DFS-Supportingneutral

Resource estimate prepared to support a Definitive Feasibility Study — requires high M&I confidence.

Why it applies: the release names the study this estimate supports

Metallurgical Results (3)

locked-cycle flotationGolden Summit Project · goldRecovery: 90 %View all details
Link to this fact

Identity

Project
Golden Summit Project
Commodity
gold
Region
usa_ak
Reported Region
Alaska
Ticker
FVL

Test Work

Program Status
preliminary
Test Type
locked-cycle flotation
Processing Route
GlassLock Process™
Sample
gold-bearing sulphide concentrate from locked-cycle flotation testwork at BaseMet Labs

Recovery

Recovery
90 %
Conc. Grade
24.7
Conc. Grade Unit
g/t Au

Lab

Laboratory
Dundee Sustainable Technologies
Consultant
Dundee Sustainable Technologies

Review

Needs Review
No
Historical
No

Dates

Event date
2025-12-16T00:00:00.000Z

Reasoning: High-grade concentrate achieved with no measurable gold loss during the arsenic removal process.

Positive factors

  • Concentrate grade increased by 47%
  • No measurable gold loss reported

Evidence · text

“The gold grade of the concentrate increased by 47%, reaching 24.7g/t Au, with no measurable gold loss”

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

Byproduct Commodityneutral

The tested commodity is a byproduct rather than the primary economic driver.

Why it applies: the release describes a byproduct credit

locked-cycle flotationGolden Summit Project · arsenicHead Grade: 7.34Head Grade Unit: %View all details
Link to this fact

Identity

Project
Golden Summit Project
Commodity
arsenic
Region
usa_ak
Reported Region
Alaska
Ticker
FVL

Test Work

Program Status
preliminary
Test Type
locked-cycle flotation
Processing Route
GlassLock Process™
Sample
gold-bearing sulphide concentrate from locked-cycle flotation testwork at BaseMet Labs

Recovery

Head Grade
7.34
Head Grade Unit
%
Conc. Grade
0.17
Conc. Grade Unit
%

Lab

Laboratory
Dundee Sustainable Technologies
Consultant
Dundee Sustainable Technologies

Review

Needs Review
No
Historical
No

Dates

Event date
2025-12-16T00:00:00.000Z

Reasoning: Successful removal of high arsenic levels to a level suitable for direct-to-smelter sale.

Positive factors

  • 98% reduction in arsenic content

Evidence · text

“Arsenic content was significantly lowered from 7.34% to 0.17%, representing a reduction of over 98%”

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

Byproduct Commodityneutral

The tested commodity is a byproduct rather than the primary economic driver.

Why it applies: the release describes a byproduct credit

locked-cycle flotationGolden Summit Project · sulfurHead Grade: 28.8Head Grade Unit: %View all details
Link to this fact

Identity

Project
Golden Summit Project
Commodity
sulfur
Region
usa_ak
Reported Region
Alaska
Ticker
FVL

Test Work

Program Status
preliminary
Test Type
locked-cycle flotation
Processing Route
GlassLock Process™
Sample
gold-bearing sulphide concentrate from locked-cycle flotation testwork at BaseMet Labs

Recovery

Head Grade
28.8
Head Grade Unit
%
Conc. Grade
20.8
Conc. Grade Unit
%

Lab

Laboratory
Dundee Sustainable Technologies
Consultant
Dundee Sustainable Technologies

Review

Needs Review
No
Historical
No

Dates

Event date
2025-12-16T00:00:00.000Z

Reasoning: Reduction in sulphur levels contributes to concentrate quality.

Positive factors

  • 39% reduction in sulphide sulphur

Evidence · text

“Sulphide sulphur levels decreased from 28.8% to 20.8%, a 39% reduction”

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

Byproduct Commodityneutral

The tested commodity is a byproduct rather than the primary economic driver.

Why it applies: the release describes a byproduct credit

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.