# 2026 Metallurgical Program Achieves 90% Copper Recovery and 88% Gold Recovery at the Hope Brook Gold Project

Canonical Atlas analysis: https://atlas-staging.minestarters.com/news/2026-metallurgical-program-achieves-90-copper-recovery-and-88-gold-recovery-at-t--64df9360-1577-4479-bb41-fa459b3a9c02

Original source: https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/319609/2026-Metallurgical-Program-Achieves-90-Copper-Recovery-and-88-Gold-Recovery-at-the-Hope-Brook-Gold-Project

Publisher: newsfile

Original announcement: 2026-10-19T11:00:00.000Z

Analysis by Minestarters Atlas

Atlas analysis published: 2026-10-19T11:09:00.256Z

Atlas analysis updated: 2026-10-19T11:09:00.256Z

- Company: Big Ridge Gold Corp.

- Ticker: BRAU

- Exchange: Unavailable

- Region: Newfoundland

- Primary commodity: Gold

- Secondary commodities: Copper, Silver

- Document categories: Metallurgy

- Extracted: 2026-10-19 11:09:00 UTC

Narrative sentiment: 0.80 · Bullish

## Minestarters Atlas summary

Big Ridge Gold Corp. reported successful 2026 metallurgical testwork at the Hope Brook Gold Project, achieving 90.3% copper recovery and 88% overall gold recovery. The program utilized a locked-cycle flotation and cleaner-tail leaching flowsheet, producing a high-grade concentrate containing 300 g/t gold and 24% copper.

Reasoning: The metallurgical program achieved high recoveries for both gold and copper, producing a high-grade concentrate and outperforming historical production benchmarks.

- Positive factor: Strong copper and gold recoveries

- Positive factor: High-grade concentrate produced

- Positive factor: Recoveries exceed historical production figures

- Positive factor: Demonstrated high recovery in rougher flotation

- Negative factor: Requires complex multi-stage flowsheet \(flotation + leaching\)

Facts used in scoring: 6

## Classification and evidence

**Mill Route**

Polarity: neutral

Definition: Processing via mill or concentrator \(CIL, CIP, tank leach, flotation\).

Why it applies: The program uses a conventional flotation and leaching flowsheet.

Evidence · text

> Simplified conventional processing flowsheet consisting of primary grinding, copper flotation, concentrate cleaning and leaching of cleaner tailings.

**QA/QC Disclosed**

Polarity: positive

Story-specific tag

Definition: Release includes QA/QC disclosure — certified lab, QP sign-off, or stated methods \(blanks, standards, duplicates\).

Why it applies: The release names a Qualified Person \(Stacy Freudigmann\) and a consultant \(Canenco\) and mentions specific testing types.

Evidence · text

> Qualified Person Stacy Freudigmann P.Eng. F.Aus.IMM., Principal SME for Canenco Consulting Group, a Qualified Person within the meaning of NI 43-101

**Heap Leach Route**

Polarity: neutral

Definition: Processing via heap leach — lower CAPEX and OPEX, lower recovery expected.

Why it applies: the document describes a heap\_leach route \("heap leach"\)

**Gravity Route**

Polarity: neutral

Definition: Gravity separation forms a material part of the flowsheet.

Why it applies: the document describes a gravity route \("gravity"\)

**Multi-Domain Tested**

Polarity: positive

Definition: Variability across ore domains \(oxide, transition, fresh\) has been addressed.

Why it applies: 3 distinct composites were tested

## Extracted facts

Stored fact records: 6. Some facts used in scoring do not have a stored record.

## Metallurgical Results (6)

### locked-cycle flotation

[Link to this fact](https://atlas-staging.minestarters.com/news/2026-metallurgical-program-achieves-90-copper-recovery-and-88-gold-recovery-at-t--64df9360-1577-4479-bb41-fa459b3a9c02#fact-metallurgical-facts-0)

Hope Brook Gold Project · copper

#### Identity

- Project: Hope Brook Gold Project
- Commodity: copper
- Region: canada\_nl
- Reported Region: Newfoundland
- Ticker: BRAU

#### Test Work

- Program Status: detailed
- Test Type: locked-cycle flotation
- Processing Route: locked-cycle flotation
- Sample: Locked-cycle flotation concentrate

#### Recovery

- Recovery: 90.3 %
- Recovery Basis: actual\_test
- Conc. Grade: 24
- Conc. Grade Unit: %

#### Lab

- Laboratory: Base Metallurgical Labs
- Consultant: Canenco Consulting Corp.

#### Review

- Needs Review: No
- Historical: No

#### Dates

- Event date: 2026-10-19T00:00:00.000Z

Reasoning: High copper recovery to a high-grade concentrate.

- Positive factor: 90.3% recovery is strong for flotation

Evidence · text

> Locked-cycle flotation produced a concentrate grading approximately 24% copper, 300 g/t gold and 93 g/t silver, with 90.3% copper recovery to concentrate.

#### Tags used in scoring

**Mill Route**

Polarity: neutral

Definition: Processing via mill or concentrator \(CIL, CIP, tank leach, flotation\).

Why it applies: processing\_route matches the flotation signal

### locked-cycle flotation

[Link to this fact](https://atlas-staging.minestarters.com/news/2026-metallurgical-program-achieves-90-copper-recovery-and-88-gold-recovery-at-t--64df9360-1577-4479-bb41-fa459b3a9c02#fact-metallurgical-facts-1)

Hope Brook Gold Project · gold

#### Identity

- Project: Hope Brook Gold Project
- Commodity: gold
- Region: canada\_nl
- Reported Region: Newfoundland
- Ticker: BRAU

#### Test Work

- Program Status: detailed
- Test Type: locked-cycle flotation
- Processing Route: locked-cycle flotation
- Sample: Locked-cycle flotation concentrate

#### Recovery

- Conc. Grade: 300
- Conc. Grade Unit: g/t

#### Lab

- Laboratory: Base Metallurgical Labs
- Consultant: Canenco Consulting Corp.

#### Review

- Needs Review: No
- Historical: No

#### Dates

- Event date: 2026-10-19T00:00:00.000Z

Reasoning: High-grade gold in the flotation concentrate.

- Positive factor: High-grade concentrate

Evidence · text

> Locked-cycle flotation produced a concentrate grading approximately 24% copper, 300 g/t gold and 93 g/t silver

#### Tags used in scoring

**Mill Route**

Polarity: neutral

Definition: Processing via mill or concentrator \(CIL, CIP, tank leach, flotation\).

Why it applies: processing\_route matches the flotation signal

### locked-cycle flotation

[Link to this fact](https://atlas-staging.minestarters.com/news/2026-metallurgical-program-achieves-90-copper-recovery-and-88-gold-recovery-at-t--64df9360-1577-4479-bb41-fa459b3a9c02#fact-metallurgical-facts-2)

Hope Brook Gold Project · silver

#### Identity

- Project: Hope Brook Gold Project
- Commodity: silver
- Region: canada\_nl
- Reported Region: Newfoundland
- Ticker: BRAU

#### Test Work

- Program Status: detailed
- Test Type: locked-cycle flotation
- Processing Route: locked-cycle flotation
- Sample: Locked-cycle flotation concentrate

#### Recovery

- Conc. Grade: 93
- Conc. Grade Unit: g/t

#### Lab

- Laboratory: Base Metallurgical Labs
- Consultant: Canenco Consulting Corp.

#### Review

- Needs Review: No
- Historical: No

#### Dates

- Event date: 2026-10-19T00:00:00.000Z

Reasoning: Silver reported as a byproduct in the concentrate.

Evidence · text

> Locked-cycle flotation produced a concentrate grading approximately 24% copper, 300 g/t gold and 93 g/t silver

#### Tags used in scoring

**Mill Route**

Polarity: neutral

Definition: Processing via mill or concentrator \(CIL, CIP, tank leach, flotation\).

Why it applies: processing\_route matches the flotation signal

### leaching

[Link to this fact](https://atlas-staging.minestarters.com/news/2026-metallurgical-program-achieves-90-copper-recovery-and-88-gold-recovery-at-t--64df9360-1577-4479-bb41-fa459b3a9c02#fact-metallurgical-facts-3)

Hope Brook Gold Project · gold

#### Identity

- Project: Hope Brook Gold Project
- Commodity: gold
- Region: canada\_nl
- Reported Region: Newfoundland
- Ticker: BRAU

#### Test Work

- Program Status: detailed
- Test Type: leaching
- Processing Route: flotation and cleaner-tail leaching
- Sample: Overall recovery including cleaner tails leaching

#### Recovery

- Recovery: 88 %
- Recovery Basis: actual\_test

#### Lab

- Laboratory: Base Metallurgical Labs
- Consultant: Canenco Consulting Corp.

#### Review

- Needs Review: No
- Historical: No

#### Dates

- Event date: 2026-10-19T00:00:00.000Z

Reasoning: Strong overall gold recovery using the combined flowsheet.

- Positive factor: Exceeds historical production figures

Evidence · text

> Leaching of the cleaner tails returns overall gold recovery of 88%.

#### Tags used in scoring

**Mill Route**

Polarity: neutral

Definition: Processing via mill or concentrator \(CIL, CIP, tank leach, flotation\).

Why it applies: processing\_route matches the flotation signal

### flotation

[Link to this fact](https://atlas-staging.minestarters.com/news/2026-metallurgical-program-achieves-90-copper-recovery-and-88-gold-recovery-at-t--64df9360-1577-4479-bb41-fa459b3a9c02#fact-metallurgical-facts-4)

Hope Brook Gold Project · gold

#### Identity

- Project: Hope Brook Gold Project
- Commodity: gold
- Region: canada\_nl
- Reported Region: Newfoundland
- Ticker: BRAU

#### Test Work

- Program Status: detailed
- Test Type: flotation
- Processing Route: rougher flotation
- Sample: Rougher flotation testing

#### Recovery

- Recovery: 96.6 %
- Recovery Basis: actual\_test

#### Lab

- Laboratory: Base Metallurgical Labs
- Consultant: Canenco Consulting Corp.

#### Review

- Needs Review: No
- Historical: No

#### Dates

- Event date: 2026-10-19T00:00:00.000Z

Reasoning: Excellent rougher stage performance.

- Positive factor: Very high recovery in rougher stage

Evidence · text

> Up to 96.6% gold recovery ... demonstrated in rougher flotation testing.

#### Tags used in scoring

**Mill Route**

Polarity: neutral

Definition: Processing via mill or concentrator \(CIL, CIP, tank leach, flotation\).

Why it applies: processing\_route matches the flotation signal

**High Recovery**

Polarity: positive

Definition: Recovery at or above the exceptional band for the commodity and processing route.

Why it applies: 96.6% is at or above the exceptional band \(95%\)

### flotation

[Link to this fact](https://atlas-staging.minestarters.com/news/2026-metallurgical-program-achieves-90-copper-recovery-and-88-gold-recovery-at-t--64df9360-1577-4479-bb41-fa459b3a9c02#fact-metallurgical-facts-5)

Hope Brook Gold Project · copper

#### Identity

- Project: Hope Brook Gold Project
- Commodity: copper
- Region: canada\_nl
- Reported Region: Newfoundland
- Ticker: BRAU

#### Test Work

- Program Status: detailed
- Test Type: flotation
- Processing Route: rougher flotation
- Sample: Rougher flotation testing

#### Recovery

- Recovery: 98.6 %
- Recovery Basis: actual\_test

#### Lab

- Laboratory: Base Metallurgical Labs
- Consultant: Canenco Consulting Corp.

#### Review

- Needs Review: No
- Historical: No

#### Dates

- Event date: 2026-10-19T00:00:00.000Z

Reasoning: Excellent rougher stage performance.

- Positive factor: Very high copper recovery in rougher stage

Evidence · text

> 98.6% copper recovery demonstrated in rougher flotation testing.

#### Tags used in scoring

**Mill Route**

Polarity: neutral

Definition: Processing via mill or concentrator \(CIL, CIP, tank leach, flotation\).

Why it applies: processing\_route matches the flotation signal

**High Recovery**

Polarity: positive

Definition: Recovery at or above the exceptional band for the commodity and processing route.

Why it applies: 98.6% is at or above the exceptional band \(92%\)

## How Atlas produces this analysis

Minestarters Atlas uses automated extraction to summarize mining announcements, identify reported measurements, and classify supporting evidence. Sentiment reflects the extracted narrative and classification rules; it is an interpretation, not a reported measurement. Evidence quotes and context are provided where available. Missing data, low-confidence results, and review flags indicate limitations. Check the original publisher announcement before relying on an interpretation.