Tectonic Metals (TSX-V: TECT) Advances Flat Gold Project with Impressive 96% Recovery in Heap Leaching Tests

Key Highlights:

• Tectonic Metals achieves 96% gold recovery through heap leaching at the Flat Gold Project in Alaska.
• Both oxidized and non-oxidized materials showed high recovery rates, supporting the project’s heap leach potential.
• These initial results suggest promising cost-efficiency for future large-scale mining operations.

Tectonic Metals Inc. (TSX-V: TECT) has announced a significant step forward in its development of the Flat Gold Project in Alaska, with recent metallurgical tests achieving up to 96% gold recovery. These results from heap leach column tests—an industry-standard method for evaluating the efficiency of mineral recovery—are encouraging, highlighting the project’s potential for cost-effective, large-scale mining.

The tests, performed on coarse ¾-inch material, demonstrated that both oxidized and non-oxidized mineralized rock responded well to heap leaching. Gold recovery rates reached 96% and 91% respectively, a strong indicator that the heap leach method could be an effective extraction process for this project. This is particularly notable because heap leaching is often a preferred method for large bulk tonnage projects due to its ability to lower operational costs by eliminating extensive crushing and grinding​.

Heap leaching has a reputation for being an efficient, cost-effective mining technique, especially for low-grade ores. The fact that Tectonic Metals achieved such high recovery rates without the need for agglomeration, a process sometimes required to improve heap permeability, suggests a potential reduction in operational complexities and costs moving forward. With no need for additional processing steps, the company could be positioned to streamline future mining operations at Flat.

Tony Reda, Tectonic Metals’ President and CEO, expressed optimism about these results, noting that they mark a major milestone in de-risking the project. These results validate previous studies and indicate that the mineralization at Flat is amenable to heap leaching—both with oxidized and non-oxidized materials—a crucial factor as the company looks to advance the project towards production​.

The leach kinetics from the tests were also impressive. Over 80% of the gold was recovered within 29 to 36 days, underscoring the efficiency of the process. Rapid recovery like this is a positive signal for the project’s future scalability, as faster recovery times can translate into more efficient production in a full-scale operation.

While these early results provide plenty of reasons for optimism, it's important to keep in mind that further studies are necessary before a clear picture of the project's full potential can emerge. Moving from a lab setting to industrial-scale production often brings new challenges, such as ore variability and infrastructure considerations. However, the fact that both oxidized and non-oxidized materials performed well in the tests is a strong indication that the project’s geology will support flexible extraction strategies in the future.

The comparisons to Kinross Gold’s successful Fort Knox Mine are not unwarranted. Both projects share similar geological features, and Fort Knox has long been a standout example of efficient heap leaching in the industry. If Tectonic can replicate similar success at Flat, the company could be well-positioned for long-term growth in Alaska’s mining sector.

In addition to the strong metallurgical performance, the company is exploring the possibility of run-of-mine heap leaching, where ore is processed directly without further crushing. If this technique proves viable, it could substantially reduce costs, allowing for quicker transitions from exploration to production. While this is an exciting possibility, further studies will be needed to confirm if this method is sustainable and scalable.

Overall, Tectonic Metals’ recent test results provide a solid foundation for the company’s next steps at the Flat Gold Project. The high recovery rates, coupled with the project’s favorable geological conditions, point to a bright future. The potential for a cost-effective, large-scale mining operation is becoming more tangible, but as always, the true test will come as the company progresses towards full-scale production.