Soma signs deal to acquire sensor-based sorting plant

Executive Summary

• Soma Gold Corp. has signed a definitive agreement to purchase and install a sensor-based sorting (SBS) facility at its El Bagre operation in Colombia, following positive bench-scale test results.
• The pilot installation has a total project budget of approximately $2.2 million (U.S.), with commissioning targeted for the first half of 2026.
• The technology aims to increase gold production without adding plant capacity and process material historically below the processing cut-off grade, with test data showing significant mass rejection and gold grade upgrades.

Key Details

• Agreement & Budget: Definitive agreement signed for the purchase and installation of a sensor-based sorting facility; total pilot project budget is ~$2.2 million (U.S.).
• Timeline: Commissioning of the sorting facility is targeted for the first half of 2026.
• Test Methodology: Recent bench-scale test performed on feed material with lower average grade to assess efficacy across the range of grades encountered at Soma's Colombian operations.
• Sample Composition: 900-kilogram bulk sample split into three subsamples:
  • Coarse: minus 60mm plus 25mm
  • Middling: minus 25mm plus 10mm
  • Combined: minus 60mm plus 15mm
• Test Results (Mass Rejection & Recovery):
  • Coarse Fraction: 40% mass rejection; 97% metallurgical recovery.
  • Middling Sample: 50% mass rejection; 84% metallurgical recovery.
  • Combined Feed: 55% mass rejection; 95% metallurgical recovery.
• Grade Upgrade: The gold grade of the sorted material was upgraded by 62.5%.
• Strategic Impact: SBS technology allows for increased gold production without adding plant capacity and enables processing of mineralized material historically below the processing cut-off grade.
• Future Scope: Expectation to apply similar results to satellite operations, including formalization targets and small, contractor-operated projects.

Notable Quotes

• Mark Bren, Vice-President, Operations: "We are pleased with the results of sensor-based sorting test work on material from the Cordero complex in Colombia. Our expectation is that we will experience similar results with material from satellite operations, including formalization targets and small, contractor-operated projects. Sensor-based sorting has the potential to significantly impact our operations by allowing us to increase gold production without adding plant capacity and to process mineralized material that has historically been below the processing cut-off grade. Investing in this technology and installing a pilot plant allows us to scale up to commercial-level processing of run-of-mine material, continue in-house evaluation of material from various sources and adjust sorting parameters to optimize the sorted product for plant feed."