Western Exploration Completes Transformative Cyanide Leach Test Work at Gravel Creek
Original announcement by newsfile on
- Company
- Western Exploration Inc.
- Ticker
- WEX
- Exchange
- Unavailable
- Region
- Nevada
- Primary commodity
- Gold
- Secondary commodities
- Silver
- Document categories
- Metallurgy
- Extracted
- 2026-09-16 11:09:13 UTC
Analysis by Minestarters Atlas
Atlas analysis published:
Minestarters Atlas analysis
Summary
Western Exploration has completed cyanide leach test work at the Gravel Creek project, demonstrating that gravity and flotation concentrates are amenable to cyanide leaching after ultra-fine regrinding. The tests achieved whole-ore gold and silver recoveries of 73.3% and 74.0%, respectively, suggesting the deposit is not entirely refractory.
Reasoning: The test work demonstrates that a significant portion of gold and silver in the concentrate is recoverable via cyanide leaching, which is a major breakthrough for project economics.
Positive factors
- demonstrates cyanide leachability of concentrates
- indicates ore is not entirely refractory
- multiple processing options confirmed
Negative factors
- requires ultra-fine regrind for recovery
Facts used in scoring: 4
Classification and evidence
Mill Routeneutral
Processing via mill or concentrator (CIL, CIP, tank leach, flotation).
Why it applies: The test work involves grinding and flotation/cyanide leaching.
Evidence · text
“The test work consisted of grinding whole ore to 80%-212µm (65 mesh) and producing a small gravity concentrate.”
QA/QC Disclosedpositive · Story-specific tag
Release includes QA/QC disclosure — certified lab, QP sign-off, or stated methods (blanks, standards, duplicates).
Why it applies: The release states that metallurgical test work was performed by qualified persons employing a QA/QC program consistent with NI 43-101.
Evidence · text
“Metallurgical test program design, Quality Assurance/Control (" QA/QC") and the interpretation of results was performed by qualified persons employing a QA/QC program consistent with NI 43-101”
Heap Leach Routeneutral
Processing via heap leach — lower CAPEX and OPEX, lower recovery expected.
Why it applies: the document describes a heap_leach route ("heap-leach")
Gravity Routeneutral
Gravity separation forms a material part of the flowsheet.
Why it applies: the document describes a gravity route ("gravity")
Multi-Domain Testedpositive
Variability across ore domains (oxide, transition, fresh) has been addressed.
Why it applies: 2 distinct composites were tested
Extracted facts
Stored fact records: 4. Some facts used in scoring do not have a stored record.
Metallurgical Results (4)
cyanide leachGravel Creek · goldRecovery: 73.3 %Head Grade: 26.46Head Grade Unit: g/tView all detailsHide details
Identity
- Project
- Gravel Creek
- Commodity
- gold
- Region
- usa_nv
- Reported Region
- Nevada
- Ticker
- WEX
Test Work
- Program Status
- detailed
- Test Type
- cyanide leach
- Processing Route
- ultra-fine regrind cyanide leach
- Sample
- Grav/Flot Conc. (combined gravity and flotation concentrate)
- Leach Time
- 72 hours
Recovery
- Recovery
- 73.3 %
- Recovery Basis
- actual_test
- Head Grade
- 26.46
- Head Grade Unit
- g/t
- Conc. Grade
- 19.95
- Conc. Grade Unit
- g/t
- Tailings Grade
- 6.51
- Tailings Grade Unit
- g/t
Lab
- Laboratory
- McClelland Laboratories
Review
- Needs Review
- No
- Historical
- No
Dates
- Event date
- 2026-09-16T00:00:00.000Z
Reasoning: 73.3% whole-ore gold recovery via cyanide leach is a significant de-risking milestone for the project's metallurgy.
Positive factors
- demonstrates cyanide leachability
Evidence · text
“Gold and silver recoveries from the combined concentrate after ultra-fine regrinding were 75.4% and 76.5%, respectively, which was equivalent to 73.3% of the gold and 74.0% of the silver contained in the whole (gravity concentration) feed.”
Tags used in scoring
Low Recoverynegative
Recovery below the weak band for the commodity and processing route.
Why it applies: 73.3% is below the weak band (80%)
cyanide leachGravel Creek · silverRecovery: 74 %Head Grade: 1432.8Head Grade Unit: g/tView all detailsHide details
Identity
- Project
- Gravel Creek
- Commodity
- silver
- Region
- usa_nv
- Reported Region
- Nevada
- Ticker
- WEX
Test Work
- Program Status
- detailed
- Test Type
- cyanide leach
- Processing Route
- ultra-fine regrind cyanide leach
- Sample
- Grav/Flot Conc. (combined gravity and flotation concentrate)
- Leach Time
- 72 hours
Recovery
- Recovery
- 74 %
- Recovery Basis
- actual_test
- Head Grade
- 1432.8
- Head Grade Unit
- g/t
- Conc. Grade
- 1095.8
- Conc. Grade Unit
- g/t
- Tailings Grade
- 337
- Tailings Grade Unit
- g/t
Lab
- Laboratory
- McClelland Laboratories
Review
- Needs Review
- No
- Historical
- No
Dates
- Event date
- 2026-09-16T00:00:00.000Z
Reasoning: 74.0% whole-ore silver recovery via cyanide leach confirms significant silver recovery potential.
Positive factors
- demonstrates cyanide leachability
Evidence · text
“Gold and silver recoveries from the combined concentrate after ultra-fine regrinding were 75.4% and 76.5%, respectively, which was equivalent to 73.3% of the gold and 74.0% of the silver contained in the whole (gravity concentration) feed.”
Tags used in scoring
Low Recoverynegative
Recovery below the weak band for the commodity and processing route.
Why it applies: 74% is below the weak band (75%)
flotationGravel Creek · goldRecovery: 97.2 %Head Grade: 5.47Head Grade Unit: g/tView all detailsHide details
Identity
- Project
- Gravel Creek
- Commodity
- gold
- Region
- usa_nv
- Reported Region
- Nevada
- Ticker
- WEX
Test Work
- Program Status
- detailed
- Test Type
- flotation
- Processing Route
- flotation
- Sample
- Flotation Concentration Test Results (Grav/Flot Conc.)
Recovery
- Recovery
- 97.2 %
- Recovery Basis
- actual_test
- Head Grade
- 5.47
- Head Grade Unit
- g/t
- Conc. Grade
- 26.46
- Conc. Grade Unit
- g/t
Lab
- Laboratory
- McClelland Laboratories
Review
- Needs Review
- No
- Historical
- No
Dates
- Event date
- 2026-09-16T00:00:00.000Z
Reasoning: High gold recovery to concentrate (97.2%) demonstrates efficient flotation/gravity separation.
Positive factors
- high concentrate grade
Evidence · table
“26.46”
Context: 5.47
Tags used in scoring
Mill Routeneutral
Processing via mill or concentrator (CIL, CIP, tank leach, flotation).
Why it applies: processing_route matches the flotation signal
High Recoverypositive
Recovery at or above the exceptional band for the commodity and processing route.
Why it applies: 97.2% is at or above the exceptional band (95%)
flotationGravel Creek · silverRecovery: 96.8 %Head Grade: 297.6Head Grade Unit: g/tView all detailsHide details
Identity
- Project
- Gravel Creek
- Commodity
- silver
- Region
- usa_nv
- Reported Region
- Nevada
- Ticker
- WEX
Test Work
- Program Status
- detailed
- Test Type
- flotation
- Processing Route
- flotation
- Sample
- Flotation Concentration Test Results (Grav/Flot Conc.)
Recovery
- Recovery
- 96.8 %
- Recovery Basis
- actual_test
- Head Grade
- 297.6
- Head Grade Unit
- g/t
- Conc. Grade
- 1432.8
- Conc. Grade Unit
- g/t
Lab
- Laboratory
- McClelland Laboratories
Review
- Needs Review
- No
- Historical
- No
Dates
- Event date
- 2026-09-16T00:00:00.000Z
Reasoning: High silver recovery to concentrate (96.8%) demonstrates efficient flotation/gravity separation.
Positive factors
- high concentrate grade
Evidence · table
“1,432.8”
Context: 297.6
Tags used in scoring
Mill Routeneutral
Processing via mill or concentrator (CIL, CIP, tank leach, flotation).
Why it applies: processing_route matches the flotation signal
High Recoverypositive
Recovery at or above the exceptional band for the commodity and processing route.
Why it applies: 96.8% is at or above the exceptional band (90%)
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.