James Bay Minerals Reports 95.9% Gold Recovery from Independence Skarn Resource
James Bay Minerals reports exceptional metallurgical testwork results from its Independence Project in Nevada, confirming over 95% gold recovery using conventional processing methods. The findings highlight the project's potential for cost-effective development of its high-grade skarn resource.
- Gold recovery up to 95.9% via gravity and carbon-in-leach processing
- High-grade skarn resource of 984,412 ounces at 6.67 g/t Au confirmed amenable to conventional methods
- Low reagent consumption indicating cost-efficient processing
- Ongoing testwork to optimize grind size and confirm results across all resource domains
- Independence Project located in Tier 1 mining jurisdiction adjacent to Nevada Gold Mines
Metallurgical Breakthrough at Independence
James Bay Minerals Limited (ASX – JBY) has unveiled promising metallurgical testwork results from its Independence Project, situated in Nevada's prolific Battle Mountain Mining District. The company’s recent assays demonstrate exceptional gold recovery rates of up to 95.9% from its high-grade skarn resource, which contains nearly one million ounces of gold at an average grade of 6.67 grams per tonne.
These results, derived from composite samples representing the project's three main skarn domains, confirm that the mineralisation is non-refractory and well-suited to conventional gravity concentration followed by carbon-in-leach (CIL) processing. Notably, the testwork also revealed low reagent consumption, a factor that could translate into reduced operational costs and a more capital-efficient processing route.
Technical Insights and Ongoing Work
Independent Metallurgical Operations (IMO) in Perth conducted the testwork on core samples, with initial results from the Middle Domain composite already received and further testing underway for the other domains. The gravity recovery averaged an impressive 41.7%, underscoring the ore’s amenability to gravity separation techniques.
James Bay Minerals is now focusing on optimizing grind size to balance gold recovery with power consumption, testing grind sizes ranging from 75 to 150 microns. Early indications suggest that recoveries exceeding 95% are achievable at finer grind sizes, but the company aims to determine if coarser grinding can maintain these high recoveries, potentially lowering processing costs further.
Strategic Positioning in a Tier 1 Jurisdiction
The Independence Project benefits from its location in Nevada, one of the world’s most mining-friendly jurisdictions, adjacent to the Nevada Gold Mines’ Phoenix Project. This proximity to established infrastructure and regulatory stability enhances the project's attractiveness and de-risks future development.
Executive Chair Matthew Hayes highlighted the significance of these metallurgical results, stating that the combination of high recovery and simple processing materially de-risks the project and supports a capital-efficient development pathway. The company plans to incorporate these findings into upcoming feasibility studies to further demonstrate the project’s economic potential.
Broader Portfolio and Future Outlook
Beyond Independence, James Bay Minerals also holds interests in the Shafter Silver Project in Texas and a substantial lithium exploration portfolio in Quebec, positioning the company across multiple commodities with growth potential. However, the Independence Project remains the flagship asset, with metallurgical testwork serving as a critical milestone toward advancing the project.
As further test results emerge and grind size optimization progresses, investors and analysts will be watching closely to see how these technical advances translate into project economics and development timelines.
Bottom Line?
James Bay Minerals’ strong metallurgical results at Independence set the stage for advancing a high-grade, low-cost gold operation in a premier mining jurisdiction.
Questions in the middle?
- Will grind size optimization enable further cost reductions without sacrificing recovery?
- How will ongoing testwork across all skarn domains impact overall resource processing assumptions?
- What are the timelines and capital requirements for advancing Independence toward production?
