NGEx Minerals Reports Positive Preliminary Metallurgical Results from Lunahuasi
Metallurgical tests confirm high recoveries and effective arsenic removal for NGEx.
NGEx Minerals Ltd. (NGEX) reported positive preliminary metallurgical results from its 100%-owned Lunahuasi Project in Argentina. Phase 1 flotation testing on composite samples from the Mars, Saturn, and Jupiter zones demonstrated strong copper, gold, and silver recoveries using a simple sequential flowsheet without cleaning stages.
Copper concentrates reached grades up to 39.4% Cu and 43.7 g/t Au, with combined bulk recoveries of 98.3% Cu, 95.6% Au, and 97.3% Ag. Phase 2 testing evaluated arsenic removal, with the GlassLock™ process proving most effective by removing >95% of arsenic and reducing concentrate mass by 25-30% without losing base or precious metals.
Samples were derived from 19 diamond drill holes across 45 continuous intersections, representing 1,229 meters of drill core. Testing was conducted by Base Metallurgical Laboratories Ltd. (Phase 1) and Dundee Sustainable Technologies Inc. / SGS Canada (Phase 2).
NGEx Minerals Ltd. (NGEX) released metallurgical results that represent a standard, expected progression following the completion of Phase 4 drilling. The findings validate the deposit's potential for producing high-grade, marketable concentrates with manageable arsenic content via an established treatment process. These results align with historical expectations for high-grade porphyry and high-sulphidation systems in the Vicuña District. The update confirms the technical feasibility of the proposed processing route and supports ongoing Phase 5 planning without introducing new material catalysts or unexpected breakthroughs.
NGEx Minerals Ltd. is a Lundin Group exploration company focused on high-grade copper-gold-silver deposits in South America. The company’s flagship project is Lunahuasi, a 100%-owned asset in San Juan, Argentina. The deposit features multiple high-grade zones, including Saturn, Mars, and Jupiter, as well as a broader porphyry system characterized by high sulphidation veins, intermediate sulphidation epithermal gold, and disseminated stockwork mineralization.
In addition to Lunahuasi, NGEx Minerals holds other assets including a ~69.1% interest in the Los Helados property in Chile, the Valle Ancho property in Argentina, which is being spun out, and the Maricunga properties in Chile. The company is positioned in the prolific Vicuña District, leveraging proximity to major operating mines and established infrastructure.