# Western Exploration Completes Transformative Cyanide Leach Test Work at Gravel Creek

Canonical Atlas analysis: https://atlas-extractions.minestarters.com/news/western-exploration-completes-transformative-cyanide-leach-test-work-at-gravel-c--04ee33ce-dee0-4118-8dd7-538dbe1d7bc5

Original source: https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/314549/Western-Exploration-Completes-Transformative-Cyanide-Leach-Test-Work-at-Gravel-Creek

Publisher: newsfile

Original announcement: 2026-09-16T11:00:00.000Z

Analysis by Minestarters Atlas

Atlas analysis published: Unknown date

Atlas analysis updated: Unknown date

- 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

Narrative sentiment: 0.80 · Bullish

## Minestarters Atlas 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 factor: demonstrates cyanide leachability of concentrates

- Positive factor: indicates ore is not entirely refractory

- Positive factor: multiple processing options confirmed

- Positive factor: potential for decreased capex and increased margins

- Negative factor: recoveries are moderate \(73-76%\) rather than exceptional

Facts used in scoring: 4

## Classification and evidence

**Mill Route**

Polarity: neutral

Definition: 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 Route**

Polarity: neutral

Definition: Processing via heap leach — lower CAPEX and OPEX, lower recovery expected.

Why it applies: the document describes a heap\_leach route \("heap-leach"\)

**Gravity Route**

Polarity: neutral

Definition: Gravity separation forms a material part of the flowsheet.

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

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

## Metallurgical Results (4)

### cyanide leach

[Link to this fact](https://atlas-extractions.minestarters.com/news/western-exploration-completes-transformative-cyanide-leach-test-work-at-gravel-c--04ee33ce-dee0-4118-8dd7-538dbe1d7bc5#fact-metallurgical-facts-0)

Gravel Creek · gold

#### 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 factor: 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 Recovery**

Polarity: negative

Definition: Recovery below the weak band for the commodity and processing route.

Why it applies: 75.4% is below the weak band \(80%\)

### cyanide leach

[Link to this fact](https://atlas-extractions.minestarters.com/news/western-exploration-completes-transformative-cyanide-leach-test-work-at-gravel-c--04ee33ce-dee0-4118-8dd7-538dbe1d7bc5#fact-metallurgical-facts-1)

Gravel Creek · silver

#### 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 factor: 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%

### flotation

[Link to this fact](https://atlas-extractions.minestarters.com/news/western-exploration-completes-transformative-cyanide-leach-test-work-at-gravel-c--04ee33ce-dee0-4118-8dd7-538dbe1d7bc5#fact-metallurgical-facts-2)

Gravel Creek · gold

#### 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 factor: high concentrate grade

Evidence · table

> 26.46

Context: 20.1

#### Tags used in scoring

**Mill Route**

Polarity: neutral

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

Why it applies: processing\_route matches the flotation signal

**Gravity Route**

Polarity: neutral

Definition: Gravity separation forms a material part of the flowsheet.

Why it applies: processing\_route matches the gravity signal

**High Recovery**

Polarity: positive

Definition: 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 \(95%\)

### flotation

[Link to this fact](https://atlas-extractions.minestarters.com/news/western-exploration-completes-transformative-cyanide-leach-test-work-at-gravel-c--04ee33ce-dee0-4118-8dd7-538dbe1d7bc5#fact-metallurgical-facts-3)

Gravel Creek · silver

#### 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 factor: high concentrate grade

Evidence · table

> 1,432.8

Context: 20.1

#### Tags used in scoring

**Mill Route**

Polarity: neutral

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

Why it applies: processing\_route matches the flotation signal

**Gravity Route**

Polarity: neutral

Definition: Gravity separation forms a material part of the flowsheet.

Why it applies: processing\_route matches the gravity signal

**High Recovery**

Polarity: positive

Definition: 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.