NORTHERN GOLD MINING INC. ("Northern Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the completion of a Scoping Level metallurgical test program conducted by XPS Consulting and Testwork Services ("XPS") at their facility in Falconbridge, Ontario. Three composite drill core samples were selected by Northern Gold from the Company's drilling on the JD, RP and East Zones of the Jonpol Deposit and submitted to XPS for testing.
Based on the testwork it was indicated that the JD and East zones were of a free milling nature and responded well to gravity separation, direct cyanidation and floatation. It was previously believed that all of the Jonpol zones contained some component of refractory ore. This testwork indicates that to be false and only the RP zone sample is partially refractory. Further testwork is being planned for the JP and RP zones to optimize recovery prior to the completion of an economic assessment. Figure 1 illustrates the recoveries obtained in each of the zones and extraction methods.
To view Figure 1, please visit the following link: http://media3.marketwire.com/docs/ngm0926fig1.pdf.
Each of the three samples was approximately 60 kg with head analysis that were representative of their respective zone's resource grade. Drill hole samples collected were chosen to represent typical mineralization in each of the respective zones. Each of the composited samples was comprised of sawn half core. For each of the samples a weighted average grade of downhole assays from the assayed half of core was calculated and reconciled against the average head grade of each sample.
JD Zone
The JD zone test sample was composited from four recent drill holes and gave a head analysis of 4.77g/t Au. The results of the testwork indicated that the Bond Work index was 16.1 and is moderately abrasive. The gravity recovery was 43.5%, whole ore cyanidation gave a recovery of 94.2% and whole ore floatation had a recovery of 93.6%. These values indicate the zone to be of a free milling nature. The composite's reconciled grade was 30.6% lower than the weighted downhole assay values.
RP Zone
The RP zone test sample was composited from five recent drill holes and gave a head analysis of 8.49g/t Au. The results of the testwork indicated that the Bond Work index was 16.5 and is moderately abrasive. The gravity recovery was 25.9%, whole ore cyanidation gave a recovery of 56.2% and whole ore floatation had a recovery of 57.2%. These values indicate the zone to contain at least some component of refractory ore and that further test work will be required. The composite's reconciled grade was 19.9% higher than the weighted downhole assay values.
East Zone
The East zone test sample was composited from seven recent drill holes and gave a head analysis of 6.79g/t Au. The results of the testwork indicated that the Bond Work index was 16.0 and is moderately abrasive. The gravity recovery was 55.5%, whole ore cyanidation gave a recovery of 90.7% and whole ore floatation had a recovery of 97.2%. These values indicate the zone to be of a free milling nature. The composite's reconciled grade was 40.6% higher than the weighted downhole assay values.
Metallurgical test work performed in the 1990's was focused on the JP zone. The current testwork represents the first metallurgical investigations from each of the three other zones. The preliminary work appears to indicate that several metallurgical sub-domains are present in the deposit and thought to be separated by cross faulting.
Martin Shefsky, President and CEO of Northern Gold, comments: "We are pleased to see that the preliminary metallurgical testwork suggests that a significant portion of the Jonpol deposit is free milling. It was previously believed that each of the Jonpol zones had some refractory component. It is also significant to note that those two zones (East and JD) have the best potential for resource expansion along strike to the east and to the west onto the recently acquired Lac Properties claims."
Qualified Persons
Mr. Tony Di Feo, P.Eng., Senior Program Metallurgist with XPS, supervised and directed the testwork, and authored the report, "Preliminary Metallurgical Scoping - Northern Gold". Mr. Di Feo is the Qualified Person (QP) as defined by National Instrument 43-101 with regard to the metallurgical study, for this release. The technical aspects of this press release have been reviewed and approved by Gary Nassif, M.Sc., P.Geo., Manager Exploration Services of Northern Gold and the QP for the Golden Bear Project.
Director Resignation
The Company also announces that Pelayo Cortina has resigned from the Board of Directors effective immediately. Northern Gold would like to thank Mr. Cortina for his contributions to the Company and wishes him the best of luck in his future endeavors.
About Northern Gold
Northern Gold is a TSXV-listed gold company based in Toronto, Ontario. The Company's main focus is the exploration and development of its prospective mineral properties at the Golden Bear Project in the Larder Lake Mining Division, northeastern Ontario. Northern Gold has a portfolio of advanced exploration projects, including the Jonpol and Garrcon Deposits and the Buffonta Property. Recent transactions, including the Harker-Holloway Property acquisition, the amalgamation with Victory Gold Mines Inc. and the acquisition from Lac Properties, add to the Company's regional consolidation strategy along the Destor-Porcupine Fault Zone.
Source: http://www.northerngold.ca/