Arizona Gold and Silver CEO Mike Stark joined Steve Darling from Proactive to announce the initiation of Phase 2 in the company’s comprehensive metallurgical test program at its Philadelphia Gold-Silver Project, located in northwestern Arizona. This next stage of testing is a critical step in validating the project’s potential for low-cost, heap leach gold recovery.

Following the success of Phase 1, which demonstrated gold recoveries ranging from 61% to 73% using column leach tests, Phase 2 aims to optimize and further validate those results. The company has commenced testing on a 415-kilogram bulk sample, incorporating High Pressure Grinding Roll (HPGR) technology—an advanced technique expected to enhance gold recoveries by improving particle liberation.

The Phase 2 program will run for 90 days and consist of four parallel column tests: two columns using conventionally crushed material and two using HPGR-crushed material. Each set will be tested at two different crush sizes to assess the impact of particle size and crushing method on gold extraction efficiency.

Stark emphasized that this work builds on encouraging geological and drilling results from the Philadelphia property, where widths and grades of mineralization have already demonstrated potential for a commercially viable heap leach operation—comparable to others in the region.

“With continued drilling success and now this critical Phase 2 test work underway, we are focused on de-risking the project and positioning Philadelphia as a strong candidate for a large-scale, low-cost gold production operation,” Stark noted.

Arizona Gold and Silver’s multi-stage metallurgical program is designed to provide the technical foundation required to move the project toward a potential development decision in the future.

Courtesy of Arizona Gold and Silver Via Proactive Investor