Lahontan Gold Finds High-Grade Residual Mineralization in Santa Fe Heap Leach Pad
Event summary
- Lahontan Gold drilled 16.5m grading 2.72 g/t Au and 2.8 g/t Ag at Santa Fe Heap Leach Pad Two.
- Ten drill holes totaled 168.9 meters, with nearly every interval containing meaningful gold and silver mineralization.
- Residual grades averaged 0.50 g/t Au and 3.3 g/t Ag, higher than expected 0.29 g/t Au and 2.5 g/t Ag.
- Cyanide leach analyses suggest material may be amenable to reprocessing.
- 86 additional drill holes remain across four historic heap leach pads.
The big picture
Lahontan's findings at Santa Fe Heap Leach Pad Two highlight the potential for economic reprocessing of historic mine waste, a growing trend in the mining sector as companies seek to extract value from legacy assets. The results come as Lahontan advances its flagship Santa Fe Mine project toward a 2027 production restart, with broader implications for Nevada's Walker Lane mineral district. The company's focus on both oxide and sulfide resources positions it to capitalize on shifting market dynamics in precious metals.
What we're watching
- Resource Potential
- Whether additional drill results will confirm sufficient residual mineralization for economic reprocessing.
- Metallurgical Testing
- How cyanide leach recovery rates will impact potential reprocessing economics.
- Permitting Timeline
- The pace at which Lahontan advances permitting for Santa Fe Mine restart, targeting 2027 production.
Related topics