Chesapeake Announces Proprietary Heap Oxidation Technology Updates
Chesapeake’s Metates heap oxidation cuts processing time by half and lifts recoveries in Phase III.
Chesapeake Gold Corp. (CKG) reported Phase III metallurgical testing results for its proprietary heap oxidation technology at the Metates project. The Massive Intrusive domain achieved 70% gold and 61% silver recovery in a reduced 90-day oxidation period, down from 180-240 days in prior phases. The Intrusive Breccia domain showed nearly doubled recoveries over similar timeframes compared to Phase I.
High Pressure Grinding Roll (HPGR) testwork indicated direct cyanidation of crushed material could boost baseline recoveries by 16% for gold and 23% for silver. Industry interest is growing, with three new third-party projects added to the testwork program. Next steps include advancing the Prefeasibility Study (PFS), contingent on the San Vicente 3 concession litigation outcome, and planning a pilot plant demonstration.
Chesapeake Gold Corp. (CKG) announced Phase III results that validate its variability program, demonstrating that oxidation times can be reduced by up to 60% while maintaining or improving precious metal recoveries. This operational update is expected to lower potential processing costs and working capital requirements, providing direct support for the upcoming Preliminary Feasibility Study (PFS).
The news is considered incremental and follows the April 2026 patent grant and ongoing testwork announcements. It does not represent a sudden, unexpected market-moving event.
Chesapeake Gold Corp. is a precious metals exploration company focused on unlocking value from refractory sulphide gold and silver deposits using proprietary heap oxidation technology. Its flagship project is Metates in Durango, Mexico, which hosts one of the world's largest undeveloped silver deposits.
The company’s resource estimate for Metates includes: - Measured & Indicated: 423.2 million ounces of silver at 14.3 g/t and 16.77 million ounces of gold at 0.57 g/t within 921.2 million tonnes. - Inferred: 59.0 million ounces of silver at 13.2 g/t and 2.13 million ounces of gold at 0.47 g/t within 139.5 million tonnes.
Chesapeake Gold also holds regional exploration properties, including Lucy, Crisy, Nicole, and El Duraznito. Additionally, the company holds a 14.99% stake plus a 1.5% NSR royalty in Mexican Gold following the sale of the Tatatila project.