At Independent Metallurgical Operations (IMO), we take immense pride in the success of our clients, assisting with metallurgical testing, analysis, and metallurgical guidance during resource development. One such project is our ongoing work with Magnetic Resources, a key player in the gold exploration sector. Our joint efforts have been crucial in advancing the exploration and development of the Lady Julie North 4 (LJN4) gold deposit.
The Lady Julie North 4 deposit, located in a highly prospective gold-bearing region, has been showing tremendous potential. As part of our work with Magnetic Resources, we have been instrumental in providing metallurgical support that ensures the project continues to progress smoothly, maximizing the potential of the resource.
A Strong Partnership
From the outset, IMO, together with its laboratory, Metallurgy Pty Ltd, worked with Magnetic Resources and, has been driven by a shared commitment to ensuring the highest standards of metallurgical processes and gold recovery. Lia Cherico, Senior Metallurgist at IMO, has been at the forefront of the project, managing and overseeing the metallurgical testwork. Lia has worked closely with Metallurgy Pty Ltd’s team, ensuring that the work meets rigorous technical standards while also addressing the specific needs of the LJN4 deposit.
Metallurgical Testing: Understanding the Potential of LJN4
Our involvement began with initial metallurgical testing of drill samples from Lady Julie North 4 (LJN4) in 2023. The focus was to evaluate the mineralization and determine its suitability for conventional processing methods. The results were promising, revealing that the mineralization was highly amenable to gravity/leach processing, standard and effective methods to recover gold from ore. This approach was confirmed to provide high gold recoveries, setting a strong foundation for the next steps in the project.
The success of these initial tests meant that Magnetic Resources could confidently move forward with their plans to expand drilling and better understand the full extent of the gold mineralization at LJN4. With the resource showing promise at increasing depths, the testing process had to adapt and scale up to match the project’s growing needs.
Scaling Up: Deeper Testing and Encouraging Results
In mid-2024, the project entered a new phase as larger sample sizes and deeper (fresh) material were tested. An extensive sampling campaign was undertaken, selecting seven metallurgical samples from 46 drill holes across the Lady Julie North area. The goal was to assess how deeper, fresher material would behave in processing, as well as to confirm the robustness of the recovery method across different oxidation states of the ore.
The results from this phase of testing were encouraging, revealing the ore is amenable to gravity, flotation, ultrafine grind and leach processing. The average gold recovery across all oxidation states exceeded 91%, a significant achievement that demonstrated the high potential of LJN4 as a valuable gold resource. These recovery rates indicated that the deposit could be developed with conventional processing methods, enhancing its attractiveness as a future mining project.
A Path Forward: LJN4’s Development
With the success of the metallurgical testing program, Magnetic Resources has taken a major step toward finalizing the feasibility study for the LJN4 gold deposit. According to George Sakalidis, Managing Director of Magnetic Resources, “The results of this new metallurgical test work are very encouraging. With gold recovery rates consistently above 91%, LJN4 is shaping up to be a top-tier resource ready for development. These findings are an important part of our upcoming Feasibility Study, which we anticipate releasing in the New Year.”
At IMO, we are proud to have contributed to this critical phase of the project, and we are excited about the opportunity to continue working with the Magnetic Resources team. Our role in refining and optimizing the gold recovery process positions LJN4 as a high-quality asset with significant potential for future development.
Looking Ahead: Continuing to Support the LJN4 Gold Deposit
As the LJN4 project moves closer to the development stage, we remain committed to supporting Magnetic Resources in bringing the project to its full potential. IMO’s metallurgical expertise will continue to play a pivotal role, ensuring that the gold recovery process remains efficient and cost-effective as the project progresses. With ongoing testing, analysis, and optimization, we are confident that LJN4 will become a successful and profitable venture for Magnetic Resources.
Additionally, as IMO continues to build our reputation as a trusted partner for gold exploration and producers, we look forward to collaborating with other exploration companies to help unlock the value of their resources. Whether you are just beginning the exploration phase or advancing towards project development, we offer the expertise and services needed to support your journey.
If you are interested in learning more about our services and how we can help your project, we invite you to get in touch with our team today.