Terrain Minerals has kicked off preliminary metallurgical test work at its Lightning gold project in Western Australia’s Mid West region, marking another key de-risking step as the company advances towards a maiden resource estimate in July.
Management reports that early indications suggest a likely non-refractory feed, which would allow for conventional gravity coarse gold separation and carbon-in-leach processing. The company has engaged Independent Metallurgical Operations, based in West Perth, to conduct the test program. Samples from recent reverse circulation drilling have already been delivered to the firm’s Welshpool facility.
Importance of metallurgical testing
The definitive work will determine whether Lightning’s gold mineralisation is non-refractory. If confirmed, this would enable a conventional gravity and carbon-in-leach processing route, avoiding the more complex and costly requirements associated with refractory ore. The distinction between refractory and non-refractory gold ore is critical, as refractory gold can be difficult to process using standard cyanidation techniques, often resulting in low recovery rates of less than 80 percent. Refractory gold is typically trapped within sulphide minerals such as iron, copper, or arsenic sulphides, or associated with organic carbon, requiring specialised pre-treatment like roasting or pressure oxidation.
Recent drilling results
Getting the metallurgical details right is especially important as Terrain compiles all technical requirements ahead of mining its first resource. Results are expected within 13 weeks, with progress updates to be provided along the way. In mid-April, Terrain reported strong RC drill results from Lightning, including 8 metres at 6.87 grams per tonne (g/t) gold from 76 metres, 7 metres at 7.08 g/t gold from 217 metres, and 11 metres at 2.61 g/t gold from 86 metres. Shortly after, diamond drilling returned 3.4 metres at 4.96 g/t gold from 213.6 metres, including 1 metre at 10.93 g/t gold, while also providing final structural and density inputs for the upcoming July resource model.
Project location and potential
Lightning is part of Terrain’s 100 per cent owned Smokebush gold and silver project in the Yalgoo Mineral Field, 350 kilometres north of Perth. The granted mining lease covers both the Lightning and Monza prospects, with the broader structural corridor offering significant upside discovery potential. An induced polarisation geophysical survey is currently underway to identify other Lightning-style gold targets in the area surrounding Lightning and Monza, as well as in the adjacent Hurley ground south of the mining lease.
Terrain notes that the project is situated in a richly endowed gold district, surrounded by currently operating and historic gold projects. The latest test work aims to understand how easily the ore could be treated if development studies continue to prove favourable. If the metallurgy meets expectations, Lightning could develop into more than just a promising drill story, giving the market another reason to watch Terrain’s next resource catalyst due in July.
