Category: Silver / Gold

Amex Recovers in Excess of 99% Gold and Silver in Metallurgical Testwork From Three Composite Samples from the HGZ at Perron

MONTREAL, QUEBEC / August 27, 2020 / Amex Exploration Inc. ("Amex or the Company") (TSXV:AMX)(FRA:MX0)(OTCQX:AMXEF) is very pleased to report metallurgical results from the High Grade Zone (HGZ), located in the Eastern Gold Zone (EGZ) on the 100% owned Perron property in northwestern Quebec, Canada. Complete metallurgical results are provided in Table 1. All three composite samples, representing high, medium, and low grade mineralization characteristic of the HGZ, were found to be amenable to gravity, flotation, and cyanidation, with overall gold and silver recoveries greater than 99%. It is likely, based on these results, that a simple gravity-cyanidation flowsheet would be sufficient to achieve very high recoveries. Metallurgical work was completed by SGS Canada Inc., a leader in metallurgical and analytical studies.
 
Kelly Malcolm, Vice President Exploration of Amex said, "As we continue to rapidly advance the Perron project towards a future maiden resource, we wanted to confirm the amenability of the mineralization to conventional milling operations with a particular interest in the gravity recoverability of the gold and silver in the system. Results exceeded our expectations, confirming the simple nature of the coarse gold in the High Grade Zone. These initial results indicate that not only would most conventional milling operations result in very high metal recoveries, but also that mineralization at Perron is suitable for the majority of nearby active mills in the Abitibi region of Quebec and Ontario. The Company plans to complete additional metallurgical work in the future on the Denise, Grey Cat, and Gratien zones as well, with all of those zones sharing similar visible gold and low sulfide mineralization."

Three samples of full PQ (large diameter) drill core were individually stage crushed with a combination of jaw, cone, and roll crusher to passing ½ inch. One quarter of the sample was rotary split and further crushed to 100% passing 6 mesh. Following sample homogenization, a 10 kg sub-sample was rotary split for Bond mill work index testing (BWI) and the remainder was crushed to 100% passing 10 mesh. Following sample homogenization, each sample was further rotary split into a 10 kg test charge and a 1 kg head assay charge.

As announced by Amex on August 5, 2020, the head assay samples were submitted for gold analyses using the screened metallics procedure. The results returned composite gold grades ranging from 5.65 g/t Au to 27.7 g/t Au and indicated high gravity recoverable gold for all three samples.

Bond ball mill grindability (BWI) testing was completed on each of the three samples. With BWI values ranging from 16.5 to 17.2 kWh/t, the samples were determined to be moderately hard to hard compared with the SGS database.

Gravity separation tests were completed on each composite, evaluating the potential for gravity recoverable gold and silver at a coarse grind size of P80 ranging from 240-330 μm using a Knelson MD-3 concentrator. The Knelson concentrate represents the achievable gravity recovery and was able to recover 72.9% to 83.7% of the gold and 88.0% to 96.6% of the silver. These results exceeded predictions from the head screened metallic analyses, which indicated expected gold recoveries of between 35% and 65%.

Flotation testing was completed on a 2 kg sub-sample of each of the gravity tailings to evaluate the potential for additional gold recovery. Flotation conditions used recovered 74.1% to 83.9% of the gold. Although the recoveries are quite good, the gold and silver recovered by the flotation circuit would likely be recoverable by direct cyanidation of the gravity tails.

Cyanide leaching was completed on a sub-sample of each flotation tailing reground to a P80 of ~90 μm to evaluate the recovery of the remaining gold in the sample by bottle roll cyanide leaching. Each sample was leached at a density of 50% solids, with 0.5 g/L cyanide and maintained for 48 hours at pH of 10.5 to 11.0. The cyanidation test conditions returned excellent results, recovering 92.1% to 94.1% of the gold contained in the flotation tailings to the pregnant leach solution after 48 hours.

In conclusion, total gold recovery for each of the three composite samples returned between 99.6 % and 99.9% while silver recovery ranges between 99.8% to 100%.

Table 1: Complete metallurgical results on three composite samples from the High Grade Zone

Sample

Test

Product

Weight
(%)

Assay (g/t)

Assay (%)

Distribution (%)

Au

Ag

Cu

S

Au

Ag

PEM-20-001

G1

Gravity Concentrate

0.9

1757

526

-

3.95

82.8

96.6

F1

Flotation Concentrate

4.8

59.9

10.1

0.08

12.6

14.4

2.5

CN1

48hr PLS

-

0.39

0.28

-

-

2.6

0.9

Leach Residue

94.3

0.04

0.02

-

-

0.2

0

Combined Concentrates / PLS

5.7

341

99.6

-

-

99.8

100

Calculated Head

100

19.3

5.7

-

-

100

100

Gravity Calc Head

 

19.2

4.9

       

Direct Head

 

27.7

-

       

PEM-20-002

G2

Gravity Concentrate

0.9

866

184

-

3.73

83.7

88

F2

Flotation Concentrate

5.2

29.9

6.8

0.04

9

12.8

7.8

CN2

48hr PLS

-

0.29

0.4

-

-

3.2

4

Leach Residue

93.8

0.03

0.02

-

-

0.3

0.2

Combined Concentrates / PLS

6.2

160

42.2

-

-

99.7

99.8

Calculated Head

100

9.9

2.6

-

-

100

100

Gravity Calc Head

 

9.43

1.9

       

Direct Head

 

12.7

-

       

PEM-20-003

G3

Gravity Concentrate

0.9

553

151

-

3.46

72.9

92.6

F3

Flotation Concentrate

5.3

23.4

3.5

0.03

5.38

20.1

3.7

CN3

48hr PLS

-

0.38

0.42

-

-

6.6

3.6

Leach Residue

93.8

0.03

0.02

-

-

0.4

0.1

Combined Concentrates / PLS

6.2

110

34.6

-

-

99.6

99.9

Calculated Head

100

6.81

2.2

-

-

100

100

Gravity Calc Head

 

6.87

1.5

       

Direct Head

 

5.65

-

       

 

Qualified Persons

Maxime Bouchard P.Geo. M.Sc.A., (OGQ 1752) and Jérôme Augustin P.Geo. Ph.D., (OGQ 2134), Independent Qualified Persons as defined by Canadian NI 43-101 standards, have reviewed and approved the geological information reported in this news release. The drilling campaign and the quality control program have been planned and supervised by Maxime Bouchard and Jérôme Augustin. Core logging and sampling were completed by Laurentia Exploration. Metallurgical testwork was completed by SGS Canada Inc. at its Quebec City and Lakefield testing centres. SGS is the world's leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 94,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 2,600 offices and laboratories around the world.

About Amex

Amex Exploration Inc. is a junior mining exploration company, the primary objective of which is to acquire, explore, and develop viable gold projects in the mining-friendly jurisdiction of Quebec. Amex is focused on its 100% owned Perron gold project located 110 kilometers north of Rouyn Noranda, Quebec, consisting of 116 contiguous claims covering 4,518 hectares. A number of significant gold discoveries have been made at Perron, including the Eastern Gold Zone, the Gratien Gold Zone, the Grey Cat Zone, and the Central Polymetallic Zone. High-grade gold has been identified in each of the zones. A significant portion of the project remains underexplored. In addition to the Perron project, the company holds a portfolio of three other properties focused on gold and base metals in the Abitibi region of Quebec and else where in the province.

For further information please contact:
Victor Cantore
President and Chief Executive Officer
Amex Exploration: +1-514-866-8209

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.

Forward-looking statements:

This news release contains forward-looking statements. All statements, other than of historical facts, that address activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future including, without limitation, the planned exploration program on the HGZ and Denise Zone, the expected positive exploration results, the extension of the mineralized zones, the timing of the exploration results, the ability of the Company to continue with the exploration program, the availability of the required funds to continue with the exploration and the potential mineralization or potential mineral resources are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are generally identifiable by use of the words "will", "should", "continue", "expect", "anticipate", "estimate", "believe", "intend", "to earn", "to have', "plan" or "project" or the negative of these words or other variations on these words or comparable terminology. Forward-looking statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Company's ability to control or predict, that may cause the actual results of the Company to differ materially from those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations include, among other things, failure to meet expected, estimated or planned exploration expenditures, failure to establish estimated mineral resources, the possibility that future exploration results will not be consistent with the Company's expectations, general business and economic conditions, changes in world gold markets, sufficient labour and equipment being available, changes in laws and permitting requirements, unanticipated weather changes, title disputes and claims, environmental risks as well as those risks identified in the Company's annual Management's Discussion and Analysis. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking statements prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described and accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Although the Company has attempted to identify important risks, uncertainties and factors which could cause actual results to differ materially, there may be others that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements except as otherwise required by applicable law.

SOURCE: Amex Exploration Inc.