Power Metallic Reports Lion Zone Recoveries of 98.9% Copper, 93.9% Palladium, 96.8% Platinum, 85% Gold and 88.9% Silver from Initial Metallurgical Results as Reported by SGS Canada Inc.
High Recovery Rates Derisk Lion Zone as Power Metallic Prepares for NYSE Leap
The most recent news release (January 19, 2026) reports preliminary metallurgical results from SGS Canada for the Lion Zone at the Nisk Project. A Locked Cycle Test (LCT) on a blended composite sample yielded exceptionally high recovery rates: 98.9% for Copper, 93.9% for Palladium, 96.8% for Platinum, 85.0% for Gold, and 88.9% for Silver. Nickel recovery was also noted at 77.1%. These results led to an 18.2% improvement in the calculated Copper Equivalent Recovery (CuEqRec) compared to previous assumptions. The testing confirmed that the mineralization is suitable for a conventional flotation flowsheet, producing a high-grade concentrate (25.8% Cu).
This update is a significant derisking milestone. While high drill grades are important, the economic viability of a project depends on the ability to recover those metals efficiently. - Recovery Improvements: The 18.2% improvement in CuEqRec directly increases the potential value of every tonne of ore modeled in future resource estimates. - Conventional Processing: Confirmation that a conventional flotation flowsheet works reduces potential capital expenditure (CAPEX) complexity and risk, as it avoids the need for exotic or unproven recovery technologies. - Strategic Positioning: These results support the company’s stated goal of producing value-added products for the battery and energy storage sectors, making the project more attractive to potential offtake partners or major mining companies.
Power Metallic Mines Inc. (formerly Power Nickel) is focused on its flagship Nisk Project in Quebec, Canada. The project is a high-grade polymetallic discovery (Copper, Nickel, PGE, Gold, Silver). The project is divided into several zones, notably the Lion Zone (high-grade Copper-PGE) and the Nisk Zone (Nickel-Copper). The company also holds the Jabal Baudan license in Saudi Arabia. The Nisk project benefits from significant infrastructure, including proximity to the Hydro-Quebec grid and major highways.