# Western Exploration Completes Transformative Cyanide Leach Test Work at Gravel Creek Canonical Atlas analysis: https://atlas-staging.minestarters.com/news/western-exploration-completes-transformative-cyanide-leach-test-work-at-gravel-c--87736e76-5243-4a83-9f24-fefe4dd642e0 Original source: https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/314549/Western-Exploration-Completes-Transformative-Cyanide-Leach-Test-Work-at-Gravel-Creek Publisher: newsfile Original announcement: 2026-09-16T11:00:00.000Z Analysis by Minestarters Atlas Atlas analysis published: 2026-09-16T11:09:12.852Z Atlas analysis updated: 2026-09-16T11:09:12.852Z - 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 Narrative sentiment: 0.80 · Bullish ## Minestarters Atlas 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 factor: demonstrates cyanide leachability of concentrates - Positive factor: indicates ore is not entirely refractory - Positive factor: multiple processing options confirmed - Negative factor: requires ultra-fine regrind for recovery Facts used in scoring: 4 ## Classification and evidence **Mill Route** Polarity: neutral Definition: 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 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 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 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: 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 leach [Link to this fact](https://atlas-staging.minestarters.com/news/western-exploration-completes-transformative-cyanide-leach-test-work-at-gravel-c--87736e76-5243-4a83-9f24-fefe4dd642e0#fact-metallurgical-facts-0) Gravel Creek · gold #### 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 factor: 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 Recovery** Polarity: negative Definition: Recovery below the weak band for the commodity and processing route. Why it applies: 73.3% is below the weak band \(80%\) ### cyanide leach [Link to this fact](https://atlas-staging.minestarters.com/news/western-exploration-completes-transformative-cyanide-leach-test-work-at-gravel-c--87736e76-5243-4a83-9f24-fefe4dd642e0#fact-metallurgical-facts-1) Gravel Creek · silver #### 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 factor: 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 Recovery** Polarity: negative Definition: Recovery below the weak band for the commodity and processing route. Why it applies: 74% is below the weak band \(75%\) ### flotation [Link to this fact](https://atlas-staging.minestarters.com/news/western-exploration-completes-transformative-cyanide-leach-test-work-at-gravel-c--87736e76-5243-4a83-9f24-fefe4dd642e0#fact-metallurgical-facts-2) Gravel Creek · gold #### 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 factor: high concentrate grade Evidence · table > 26.46 Context: 5.47 #### 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: 97.2% is at or above the exceptional band \(95%\) ### flotation [Link to this fact](https://atlas-staging.minestarters.com/news/western-exploration-completes-transformative-cyanide-leach-test-work-at-gravel-c--87736e76-5243-4a83-9f24-fefe4dd642e0#fact-metallurgical-facts-3) Gravel Creek · silver #### 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 factor: high concentrate grade Evidence · table > 1,432.8 Context: 297.6 #### 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: 96.8% 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.