Lake Victoria Gold (WKN A3E4WC / TSXV LVG) presents compelling metallurgical results from the Imwelo gold project in northern Tanzania. According to the company, test work on drill core samples from Area C confirms that the mineralization at the project is predominantly free-milling and can be processed effectively using conventional methods – a significant advantage.
According to Lake Victoria, gold recoveries of up to approximately 96-97% were achieved in the laboratory, based on a combination of gravity separation and cyanide leaching. For Lake Victoria Gold, these results are particularly important because they strengthen the technical foundation for further mine planning and the design of the planned processing plant.
The test work was conducted on samples from the recently completed drilling program in Area C. According to Lake Victoria, the results show that a large portion of the gold can be recovered directly through cyanide leaching. At the same time, a significant proportion of gravity-recoverable gold was identified. This combination is considered essential in the project context because it enables a comparatively conventional process route.
Lake Victoria Gold Confirms Simple Processing for Imwelo
The focus of the new data is the metallurgical characterization of the mineralization in Area C. Lake Victoria Gold reports that approximately 84% of the gold is directly cyanide-leachable. This indicates that the mineralization at the Imwelo gold project is predominantly non-refractory. In addition, the test programs revealed a strong gravity-recoverable gold component of approximately 42 to 47%. And the subsequent cyanide treatment of the residues from gravity separation (gravity tails) delivered high recovery rates of around 95%.
For Lake Victoria Gold, this results in a processing concept based on established technology. The envisaged or supported flowsheet includes primary crushing, grinding to approximately P80 75 micrometers, gravity separation using centrifugal concentrators, and subsequent cyanide leaching of the gravity tails in a carbon-in-leach circuit. According to the company, such a flowsheet is already widely used in the Lake Victoria Goldfield and is considered technically well understood.
The results should not be viewed in isolation. Lake Victoria Gold emphasizes that they align well with previous metallurgical programs from 2013, 2014, and 2017. This earlier work had focused primarily on oxide material, while the current program was more oriented toward transitional and fresh sulfide material from deeper sections of the planned mining sequence. This consistency between older and new data is particularly significant for the Imwelo gold project, as it is intended to better secure the expected plant performance.
Imwelo Gold Project Moves Closer to Development with New Data
The metallurgical test work was conducted by Nesch Mintec Tanzania Ltd. as an independent laboratory. Representative composite samples from drill cores of the recent program in Area C were used. According to Lake Victoria Gold, these samples were intended to represent the range of mineralization that could be encountered in future mining. This included transitional material and fresh sulfide material.
The test program included diagnostic leaching tests, investigations into gravity-recoverable gold, bottle-roll cyanide leaching, intensive leaching of gravity concentrates, cyanide treatment of gravity tails, and determination of the Bond Work Index. According to Lake Victoria Gold, the results support the assumption that gold from Area C can be effectively recovered using a conventional combination of gravity and cyanide leaching.
Another technical point concerns rock hardness. The Bond Work Index was approximately 22.9 kWh per tonne. This indicates comparatively hard rock, which is typical for Archean greenstone belts in the Lake Victoria Goldfield. Lake Victoria Gold notes that while this suggests a moderate energy requirement for grinding, such values are common in the region and can be accommodated in conventional milling circuits.
Lake Victoria Gold Integrates Results into Planning and Plant Layout
For Lake Victoria Gold, the new metallurgical results are now being incorporated into several ongoing work streams. These include final mine planning, optimization of plant design, production planning, and further engineering studies. The company views this as another step toward advancing the fully permitted Imwelo gold project toward near-term gold production.
The project’s location also plays a role. The Imwelo gold project is situated in the productive Lake Victoria Goldfield and is located approximately 12 kilometers west of AngloGold Ashanti’s Geita Gold Mine. For Lake Victoria Gold, this underscores the project’s regional context within one of Africa’s most productive gold districts.
At the same time, the company points to the uncertainties associated with a production decision. While Imwelo has been the subject of JORC-compliant PEA, PFS, and updated PFS work (Preliminary Economic Assessment and Preliminary Feasibility Study, respectively), these studies are not considered current under the Canadian reporting standard NI 43-101. This is because Lake Victoria Gold has not yet submitted a feasibility study that demonstrates mineral reserves and conclusively establishes economic and technical viability. A decision to commence production would therefore not be based on a feasibility study of mineral reserves and would accordingly be associated with increased economic and technical risks. These include potential deviations in grades and recovery rates, geotechnical or metallurgical challenges, cost overruns, financing issues, and operational, regulatory, and permitting-related risks.
Despite this caveat, the new metallurgical data represent an important technical advancement for Lake Victoria Gold. For the Imwelo gold project, they primarily provide a clearer picture of the processing characteristics of the material from Area C and thereby strengthen the foundation for the next development steps.
