Metallurgical Testing

Large  volume  bottle  roll  leaching  tests  were  performed  by  Hazen  Research of  Golden, Colorado, USA  on  a sample of uranium collected from the Bass Mine area, oxidised copper from the Southwest Huntoon, and oxidised copper from the Cu Skarn area of Bass Mountain claims.

Uranium Testing

Sulphuric  acid  leaching of uranium samples grading  9.34% U308,  2 g/t gold,  and  149 g/t, silver was very encouraging  –  with  90%  extraction  of  uranium  in  24 hours.  The tallings from the uranium leach test were neutralised and  leached with sodium cyanide. Over 5 days,  up to  84% recovery for gold and 73%  recovery  for silver were recorded.  While this is very encouraging, reagent  consumption was quite high, illustrating further areas for investigation.

Copper Testing

90% recovery over seven days from a Hontoon Mine copper sample, grading  9.72%  copper, and 93% recovery from the  Cu Skarm, grading  5.66% copper, were recorded.  However, acid consumption  was  very  high,  indicating  that  more  work is required.  This  would  focus on crushing size and length of the leaching process.  Preliminary indications suggest  that similar recoveries can be achieved  over much shorter periods, with a commensurate reduction in acid consumption.