Leach tests help characterize Old Nick

Metallurgical tests indicate the Old Nick nickel deposit near Bridesville in southern British Columbia may be leachable.

Situated near Bridesville, the deposit forms part of the Rock Creek Gold Trend joint venture, with ownership shared 49% by Gold City Mining (VSE), 25.5% by Phoenix Gold Resources and 25.5% by Sway Resources (VSE).

The partners believe Old Nick may contain more than 100 million tons grading 0.22% nickel and 0.01% cobalt.

Bench-scale, agitated leach tests under weak acidic conditions and atmospheric pressure were conducted on a sample ground to 65% minus-325 mesh. After 25 hours, 81% of the nickel and 80% of the contained cobalt were released into solution.

Column leach tests will get under way shortly, and the results from agitated leach tests on samples from two other areas of the deposit are pending.