Core from Moss will be tested in four column leach tests with crush sizes up to 2 inches. The crushed ore will be leached in 5 feet high columns for a minimum of 200 days. The tests are expected to determine maximum obtainable gold and silver recoveries using leaching as well as the leach times needed for maximum recovery.
In 2008 Patriot conducted the first column leach tests done at Moss using METCON research of Tucson, Arizona. Three column leach tests were conducted using 80 percent passing 1 inch, 1/2 inch and 1/4 inch crush sizes. These test charges were reconstituted and loaded into 4 inch diameter PVC columns to a height of approximately 3.5 meters. The material was leached for 109 days. The results of these tests show maximum extractions were from the 1/4 inch crush size which recovered 66.3% of the gold and 42.1% of the silver. However, recovery curves for both gold and silver were not flat after 109 days. Recoveries were still increasing which indicates longer leach times will improve recoveries even further. Reagent consumption for all tests was normal.
At Round Mountain and several other heap leach operations in Nevada, leaching is conducted for several years on the same leach pile, resulting in improved recoveries and more favorable economic metrics.
Patriot Gold plans continuing work in 2010 on advancing the Moss Mine Gold Project as a bulk mineable open pit heap leachable gold/silver deposit.
Disclaimer: This announcement may contain forward-looking statements which involve risks and uncertainties that include, among others, limited operating history, limited access to operating capital, factors detailed in the accuracy of geological and geophysical results including drilling and assay reports; the ability to close the acquisition of mineral exploration properties, and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the company to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. More information is included in the company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and may be accessed through the SEC's web site at http://www.sec.gov.