Canadian miner TVI Pacific said its Philippine unit got “encouraging results” from pilot plant tests conducted on material from its Balabag project in Zamboanga del Sur.
TVI Resource Development Philippines Inc. (TVIRD) tested samples from Balabag at its mine site in Canatuan in Zamboanga del Norte, which showed recovery rates of 93 percent for gold and 90 percent for silver.
The tests involved 30 tons of material that contains 4.8 grams of gold and 212 grams of silver per ton.
TVI Pacific said in a statement that tests also showed the effectiveness of a process called carbon-in-leach circuit compared to other processes of recovering precious metals.
The company said this “could translate into lower [capital expenditures]” related to the possible operation of the Balabag mine.
Pilot plant testing is continuing to further optimize process efficiencies.
“These initial metallurgical test work results are very encouraging,” said Cliff James, TVI Pacific chair and chief executive.
“Confirmation of metal recoveries in this larger-scale pilot plant will help establish the recoveries of gold and silver that can be achieved in a commercial process,” James added.