Western Exploration Completes Transformative Cyanide Leach Test Work at Gravel Creek
Original announcement by newsfile on
- Company
- Western Exploration Inc.
- Ticker
- WEX
- Exchange
- Unavailable
- Region
- Nevada
- Primary commodity
- Gold
- Secondary commodities
- Silver
- Document categories
- Metallurgy
- Extracted
- 2026-09-16 11:19:13 UTC
Analysis by Minestarters Atlas
Minestarters Atlas analysis
Summary
Western Exploration has completed cyanide leach test work on gravity and flotation concentrates from the Gravel Creek deposit, demonstrating gold and silver recoveries of 75.4% and 76.5% respectively after ultra-fine regrinding. This result indicates the ore is not entirely refractory and supports multiple processing options to improve project economics.
Reasoning: The test work provides a major technical breakthrough by proving that the gravity/flotation concentrates can be economically treated via cyanide leaching, significantly de-risking the processing route for the Gravel Creek deposit.
Positive factors
- demonstrates cyanide leachability of concentrates
- indicates ore is not entirely refractory
- multiple processing options confirmed
- potential for decreased capex and increased margins
Negative factors
- recoveries are moderate (73-76%) rather than exceptional
Facts used in scoring: 4
Classification and evidence
Mill Routeneutral
Processing via mill or concentrator (CIL, CIP, tank leach, flotation).
Why it applies: The test work involves grinding, flotation, and cyanide leaching.
Evidence · text
“The test work consisted of grinding whole ore to 80%-212µm (65 mesh) and producing a small gravity concentrate.”
Heap Leach Routeneutral
Processing via heap leach — lower CAPEX and OPEX, lower recovery expected.
Why it applies: the document describes a heap_leach route ("heap-leach")
Gravity Routeneutral
Gravity separation forms a material part of the flowsheet.
Why it applies: the document describes a gravity route ("gravity")
Multi-Domain Testedpositive
Variability across ore domains (oxide, transition, fresh) has been addressed.
Why it applies: 2 distinct composites were tested
Extracted facts
Stored fact records: 4. Some facts used in scoring do not have a stored record.
Metallurgical Results (4)
cyanide leachGravel Creek · goldRecovery: 75.4 %Head Grade: 26.46Head Grade Unit: g/tView all detailsHide details
Identity
- Project
- Gravel Creek
- Commodity
- gold
- Region
- usa_nv
- Reported Region
- Nevada
- Ticker
- WEX
Test Work
- Program Status
- detailed
- Test Type
- cyanide leach
- Processing Route
- ultra-fine regrind and cyanide leach
- Sample
- Combined gravity and flotation concentrate, ultra-fine regrind (>95%-10µm), 72-hour cyanide leach
- Leach Time
- 72 hours
Recovery
- Recovery
- 75.4 %
- Recovery Basis
- actual_test
- Head Grade
- 26.46
- Head Grade Unit
- g/t
- Conc. Grade
- 19.95
- Conc. Grade Unit
- g/t
- Tailings Grade
- 6.51
- Tailings Grade Unit
- g/t
- Mass Pull
- 20.1 %
Lab
- Laboratory
- McClelland Laboratories
Review
- Needs Review
- No
- Historical
- No
Dates
- Event date
- 2026-09-16T00:00:00.000Z
Reasoning: 75.4% recovery on ultra-fine regrind concentrate is a significant technical milestone for this deposit type.
Positive factors
- demonstrates viability of cyanide leaching on concentrates
Evidence · text
“Gold and silver recoveries from the combined concentrate after ultra-fine regrinding were 75.4% and 76.5%”
Tags used in scoring
Low Recoverynegative
Recovery below the weak band for the commodity and processing route.
Why it applies: 75.4% is below the weak band (80%)
cyanide leachGravel Creek · silverRecovery: 76.5 %Head Grade: 1432.8Head Grade Unit: g/tView all detailsHide details
Identity
- Project
- Gravel Creek
- Commodity
- silver
- Region
- usa_nv
- Reported Region
- Nevada
- Ticker
- WEX
Test Work
- Program Status
- detailed
- Test Type
- cyanide leach
- Processing Route
- ultra-fine regrind and cyanide leach
- Sample
- Combined gravity and flotation concentrate, ultra-fine regrind (>95%-10µm), 72-hour cyanide leach
- Leach Time
- 72 hours
Recovery
- Recovery
- 76.5 %
- Recovery Basis
- actual_test
- Head Grade
- 1432.8
- Head Grade Unit
- g/t
- Conc. Grade
- 1095.8
- Conc. Grade Unit
- g/t
- Tailings Grade
- 337
- Tailings Grade Unit
- g/t
- Mass Pull
- 20.1 %
Lab
- Laboratory
- McClelland Laboratories
Review
- Needs Review
- No
- Historical
- No
Dates
- Event date
- 2026-09-16T00:00:00.000Z
Reasoning: 76.5% silver recovery confirms the ability to extract silver from the concentrate via cyanide.
Positive factors
- demonstrates viability of cyanide leaching on concentrates
Evidence · text
“Gold and silver recoveries from the combined concentrate after ultra-fine regrinding were 75.4% and 76.5%”
flotationGravel Creek · goldRecovery: 97.2 %Head Grade: 5.47Head Grade Unit: g/tView all detailsHide details
Identity
- Project
- Gravel Creek
- Commodity
- gold
- Region
- usa_nv
- Reported Region
- Nevada
- Ticker
- WEX
Test Work
- Program Status
- detailed
- Test Type
- flotation
- Processing Route
- gravity and flotation
- Sample
- Flotation Concentration Test, Grav/Flot Conc. (Rougher)
Recovery
- Recovery
- 97.2 %
- Recovery Basis
- actual_test
- Head Grade
- 5.47
- Head Grade Unit
- g/t
- Conc. Grade
- 26.46
- Conc. Grade Unit
- g/t
- Mass Pull
- 20.1 %
Lab
- Laboratory
- McClelland Laboratories
Review
- Needs Review
- No
- Historical
- No
Dates
- Event date
- 2026-09-16T00:00:00.000Z
Reasoning: High recovery to concentrate (97.2%) is expected for a flotation stage.
Positive factors
- high concentrate grade
Evidence · table
“26.46”
Context: 20.1
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
Gravity Routeneutral
Gravity separation forms a material part of the flowsheet.
Why it applies: processing_route matches the gravity signal
High Recoverypositive
Recovery at or above the exceptional band for the commodity and processing route.
Why it applies: 97.2% is at or above the exceptional band (95%)
flotationGravel Creek · silverRecovery: 96.8 %Head Grade: 297.6Head Grade Unit: g/tView all detailsHide details
Identity
- Project
- Gravel Creek
- Commodity
- silver
- Region
- usa_nv
- Reported Region
- Nevada
- Ticker
- WEX
Test Work
- Program Status
- detailed
- Test Type
- flotation
- Processing Route
- gravity and flotation
- Sample
- Flotation Concentration Test, Grav/Flot Conc. (Rougher)
Recovery
- Recovery
- 96.8 %
- Recovery Basis
- actual_test
- Head Grade
- 297.6
- Head Grade Unit
- g/t
- Conc. Grade
- 1432.8
- Conc. Grade Unit
- g/t
- Mass Pull
- 20.1 %
Lab
- Laboratory
- McClelland Laboratories
Review
- Needs Review
- No
- Historical
- No
Dates
- Event date
- 2026-09-16T00:00:00.000Z
Reasoning: High recovery to concentrate (96.8%) is expected for a flotation stage.
Positive factors
- high concentrate grade
Evidence · table
“1,432.8”
Context: 20.1
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
Gravity Routeneutral
Gravity separation forms a material part of the flowsheet.
Why it applies: processing_route matches the gravity signal
High Recoverypositive
Recovery at or above the exceptional band for the commodity and processing route.
Why it applies: 96.8% is at or above the exceptional band (90%)
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.