Lahontan Gold Corp. (TSXV: LG | OTCQB: LGCXF | FSE: Y2F) has reported strong cyanide extraction results for gold and silver from its 2025 reverse‑circulation drilling programme at the West Santa Fe project in Nevada, supporting the project’s amenability to heap‑leach processing.
Analysis of 158 pulp samples returned average cyanide‑extractable recoveries of 81% for gold and 60% for silver, both exceeding recoveries projected by historical metallurgical work at the project. Lahontan Gold said the results validate earlier testwork and strengthen confidence in low‑cost recovery options for the oxide gold‑silver system.
The cyanide‑extractable gold results ranged from 41% to more than 100%, with most values clustering around the 81% average. Recoveries exceeding 100% were attributed to normal analytical uncertainty between fire assay and cyanide extraction methods.
Silver recoveries also returned encouraging results, with cyanide‑extractable silver ranging from 19% to 91% and averaging approximately 60%. Lahontan Gold noted that silver recovery at this level is considered high for oxide systems and exceeds projections from previous metallurgical assessments.
Kimberly Ann, executive chair, president, CEO, and founder of Lahontan Gold, commented, “The results of the CN extractable gold and silver analyses confirm our belief that precious‑metal mineralization at West Santa Fe is amenable to cyanide heap leach processing. Combined with the results of the 2025 RC drilling program, which replicated historic gold and silver results, we are checking all the boxes as we continue advancing West Santa Fe toward a Mineral Resource Estimate later this year.”
The cyanide testing programme was designed to replicate potential heap‑leach performance and included all significant gold and silver intercepts reported from the 2025 RC drilling campaign. Lahontan Gold noted that extensive metallurgical work has previously been carried out at West Santa Fe, including cyanide column leach tests and conventional grinding with CIP recovery.
In a 1982 metallurgical review by Kappes Cassiday and Associates, historical testing indicated expected recoveries of approximately 70% for gold and 50% for silver under heap‑leach conditions. Lahontan Gold said the latest cyanide‑extractable results not only align with those findings but exceed them, reinforcing the technical basis for heap‑leach development.
The company plans to undertake additional metallurgical testwork to further optimise precious‑metal recovery and reduce processing costs as exploration continues to expand the mineralised footprint and advance resource definition.
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