Lahontan Gold Launches Metallurgical Testing Program to Boost Santa Fe Project Recovery Rates

Lahontan Gold Corp. has commenced a comprehensive metallurgical testing program at its Santa Fe project with the primary objective of increasing gold and silver recovery rates from the mixed oxide-sulfide transition zone. This strategic initiative follows the Preliminary Economic Assessment findings that revealed a 49% gold recovery rate in this specific geological domain, a figure the company believes can be substantially improved through advanced metallurgical processing techniques. The testing results, anticipated later this year, carry significant implications for the project's overall economic viability and long-term production forecasting capabilities.

The Santa Fe project represents a cornerstone of Lahontan's development strategy, building upon a rich historical legacy of gold and silver production while maintaining substantial mineral resources. The transition zone, where considerable resources remain underutilized due to current recovery limitations, presents a critical opportunity for operational enhancement. CEO Kimberly Ann emphasized the strategic importance of this testing program, noting that any improvement in recovery rates would directly translate to enhanced project economics and could potentially accelerate the development timeline. The company's approach leverages historical production data combined with modern metallurgical analysis to optimize recovery processes.

Complementing the metallurgical testing efforts, Lahontan is preparing for an expanded drilling campaign scheduled for 2025, designed to facilitate resource growth and overall project optimization. The company has successfully obtained approval from the Bureau of Land Management to access additional high-priority drill sites, thereby strengthening its exploration and development framework. This coordinated approach between metallurgical testing and expanded drilling reflects Lahontan's comprehensive strategy to maximize the Santa Fe project's potential value. The company's engagement with leading industry consultants for the Preliminary Economic Assessment update demonstrates its commitment to advancing the project toward eventual production status.

Lahontan's technical initiatives are supported by both historical operational data and contemporary analyses that indicate strong metallurgical potential throughout the Santa Fe property. Located within the renowned Walker Lane mineral belt, known for its prolific mining history, the Santa Fe project stands positioned to contribute meaningfully to the region's established gold and silver production legacy. The successful implementation of improved recovery methods could establish new operational benchmarks for similar mixed oxide-sulfide deposits within the broader mining district, potentially influencing development approaches for comparable geological formations throughout the region.