Sitka Recovers Gold, Tungsten at Rhosgobel
Why It Matters
High recovery rates lower processing costs and validate tungsten as a valuable by‑product, strengthening Sitka's economic case and positioning it to benefit from rising demand for both gold and critical minerals.
Key Takeaways
- •Gold recovery averages 94.3% using conventional cyanide leach
- •Tungsten recovery reaches 84.7% via standard flotation
- •RC Gold holds ~5.2 million oz inferred gold across three deposits
- •30,000 m drilling planned in 2026, tripling total at Rhosgobel
- •Tungsten appears in every 2026 drill hole, boosting by‑product potential
Pulse Analysis
Sitka Gold's RC Gold project sits on Yukon’s Tombstone Gold Belt, a region renowned for intrusion‑related gold systems. The Rhosgobel deposit, part of a 447‑square‑kilometer land package, contributes a substantial portion of the project's inferred resource—approximately 2.25 million ounces of gold at 0.7 g/t. Beyond gold, the discovery of scheelite‑bearing tungsten across a broad 850‑meter strike adds a critical mineral dimension, aligning the project with global supply‑chain initiatives that prioritize tungsten for defense and clean‑energy applications.
The recent metallurgical tests underscore the deposit’s processing advantage. Gold leaching achieved a 94.3% average recovery with minimal cyanide consumption, indicating non‑refractory ore that can be treated cost‑effectively. Tungsten recovery of 84.7% through conventional grinding and rougher flotation demonstrates that the by‑product can be extracted without exotic technologies. These results reduce capital and operating expenditures, improve cash‑flow forecasts, and make the Rhosgobel deposit more attractive to investors seeking projects with diversified revenue streams.
Looking ahead, Sitka is allocating half of its fully funded 60,000‑meter drilling campaign to Rhosgobel, with 30,000 meters slated for 2026. This aggressive expansion aims to delineate the mineralized envelope, test new targets, and potentially increase both gold and tungsten reserves. If the high recoveries are replicated at scale, the combined metal output could significantly boost the project's net present value, positioning Sitka as a notable player in both the precious‑metal and critical‑mineral markets.
Sitka recovers gold, tungsten at Rhosgobel
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