Fulcrum Metals PLC has announced the commencement of a strategic sampling program at the Teck-Hughes gold tailings project in Canada. The program marks the first phase of a testing and study agreement with Extrakt Process Solutions LLC, aimed at evaluating the efficiency of Extrakt's processing technology in recovering gold and other by-products from the tailings. The project, estimated to contain approximately 138,460 ounces of gold, represents a significant opportunity for Fulcrum.
The company has an option in place to acquire a 100% interest in the Teck-Hughes gold tailings project and has made the initial payment as per the terms of the agreement. Additionally, Fulcrum is in dialogue with the Ministry of Energy, Northern Development and Mines regarding the award of the mineral recovery permit for Teck-Hughes.
The sampling program is planned across five sites of the project, with composite samples of tailing material to be sent to the Extrakt testing facility in Kentucky, USA. The test work is expected to take approximately 8-12 weeks from the delivery date and will incorporate a full suite of metallurgical characterisation, including ICP, XRD mineralogical analysis, and batch leach testing.
Fulcrum's CEO, Ryan Mee, expressed excitement about the project, highlighting the potential for considerable return on investment and the opportunity for sustainable mining practices. The phased development program includes high-level gold recovery investigation, conceptual study, laboratory test work, and economic assessment study, aiming to provide a comprehensive insight into the project's viability.
The Teck-Hughes gold tailings project, with a historical average gold grade of 0.66g/t, has the potential to recover multi-commodities from the tailings. The project's estimated tonnage of 6,531,300 tonnes of material presents a significant opportunity for Fulcrum as it progresses towards a potential licensing technology agreement with Extrakt.