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| Saturn Metals |
New metallurgical results boost confidence in low-cost heap leach potential for 2Moz resource
Heap Leach Testwork Surpasses Expectations at Western Australian Gold Project
Saturn Metals has reported exceptional gold recoveries from recent metallurgical testing at its flagship Apollo Hill gold project in Western Australia. The column leach trials, targeting near-surface oxide and transitional material from the upgraded 2.03-million-ounce Mozi resource, yielded an average 86% gold recovery over 95 days, exceeding earlier projections.
Results were consistent across a grade range of 0.18–0.84g/t, highlighting the deposit’s suitability for low-cost, bulk-tonnage heap leach processing. Over 75% of the gold was recovered in the first 30 days, suggesting strong leach kinetics and rapid recovery potential—a critical factor in early cash flow for open-pit operations.
Efficiency and Scalability Highlighted
Importantly, the tests showed minimal reagent usage, requiring just 0.5kg of cyanide per tonne and 4.3kg of cement per tonne, further improving project economics. Percolation performance—a key measure of fluid flow through the heap—was reported at six times the minimum threshold, indicating excellent material handling characteristics for large-scale operations.
Managing Director Ian Bamborough said the results validate Apollo Hill’s competitive edge:
“The metallurgy of Apollo Hill is a clear competitive advantage. This positive new data will be used as the company progresses its studies towards production.”
The findings will feed directly into Saturn’s ongoing pre-feasibility study (PFS) and are expected to significantly improve outcomes over the prior preliminary economic assessment, which assumed a more conservative 75% recovery.
ScrapInsight Editorial Commentary
Metallurgy often makes or breaks gold projects—especially lower-grade bulk operations. Saturn’s 86% recovery rate, paired with low reagent use and high percolation rates, points to a cost-effective heap leach pathway. As gold prices hold firm, Saturn Metals is well-positioned to advance Apollo Hill with confidence, potentially unlocking a scalable and financeable Western Australian gold asset.
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