Central Asia contracts metallurgical testwork and plant design

  Central Asia Resources has entered into a contract with mining services company Gekko Systems, of Ballarat in Victoria, for a program of metallurgical testwork on ore from Central Asia’s Uenke Bulak gold project at Boguty in Kazakhstan.The testwork, to be carried out in Australia, will determine the amenability of the ore to vertical shaft impactor comminution, gravity concentration, flotation, intensive cyanidation and electrowinning, and the most effective combination of modules in a Gekko modular plant for the treatment of ore from Boguty. Under the terms of the contract, Gekko Systems will then design the modular plant to generate optimum recovery of gold and silver. Following the discovery of higher than expected grades returned in historical metallurgical testwork completed by the previous leaseholder of the Boguty Gold project, Gekko will also complete analysis on copper, lead and zinc recovery to determine if extraction of these minerals is economically viable. According to Central Asia, the metallurgical testing program is scheduled to be completed in 12 weeks. Central Asia CEO, Kevin Malaxos said: “This is the next step in our desktop feasibility study for the Boguty Gold project and, subject to the results of that study, Central Asia expects to enter into a construction contract with Gekko Systems.” A diamond drill rig has been dispatched to Uenke Bulak to complete essential in-fill drilling with the aim of upgrading the JORC-compliant Uenke Bulak resource tonnage and grade and to provide additional sample material for further metallurgical testing if required. “Central Asia remains focused on aggressively exploring all its highly prospective Kazakhstan gold projects to confirm JORC-compliant gold resources in 2008,” Mr Malaxos said.