Lake Victoria Gold Reveals Promising Processing Route for Imwelo's Surface Mineralization

Lake Victoria Gold Ltd., a notable player in the mining industry, recently announced significant advancements in its metallurgical testwork on the highly weathered mineralization at its Imwelo Gold Project located in Tanzania's rich Lake Victoria Goldfield. The news, released on September 24, 2026, outlines a transformative processing strategy that is set to enhance gold recovery dramatically.

Key Highlights of the Testwork

The metallurgical testwork highlighted the efficacy of the attrition scrubbing method followed by desliming, revealing it as the preferred pretreatment option. This technique resulted in a notable increase in gold extraction within just 24 hours, elevating extraction rates from nearly 50% to over 84%. In addition, bottle-roll testing showcased recoveries soaring up to 88% on the pretreated material, underscoring the success of this processing approach.

Interestingly, the test process conducted by Nesch Mintech Tanzania Limited, a laboratory based in Mwanza, demonstrated substantial improvements in slurry handling, optimizing the flow and recovery potential further down the processing line. The attrition-scrubbing not only enhanced gold extraction but also significantly reduced settling times and improved bed compaction, proving to be instrumental for the mining operation's efficiency.

Strong Near-Surface Results

The metallurgical results come shortly after Lake Victoria Gold's report on promising drill results from the same Area C of the Imwelo project, showcasing near-surface gold grades of up to 28.71 g/t Au over a measured length of 2.75 meters. These findings, which included impressive intervals such as 59.77 g/t Au over 1.3 meters, validate the exploration efforts and boost the project's profile as a viable mining candidate. This drilling was purposefully designed to intersect shallow mineralization in order to provide whole-core material, crucial for the metallurgical testing.

Strategic Importance of the Findings

Marc Cernovitch, the President and CEO of Lake Victoria Gold, emphasized the importance of these findings, noting that they effectively addressed practical engineering questions concerning the management of clay-rich materials that are expected to be mined early in the sequence. With a clear direction for further development, this success in metallurgy not only enhances the confidence in the Imwelo project but also sets a technical foundation for advancing its process design.

Following the positive results, the next phase of metallurgical work will aim to establish a detailed understanding of gold and mass balance within the desliming circuit, crucial for optimizing the mining operation.

The metallurgical testing program involved submitting 38 samples totaling 120.34 kg to Nesch Mintech for extensive evaluation. The samples returned an average head grade of 3.80 g/t Au, confirming the project's potential.

Future Prospects

The outcomes from this metallurgical testwork are not just numbers; they signify Lake Victoria Gold's commitment to refining their operational processes and pushing the Imwelo project closer to potential construction and production phases. This growth trajectory is enhanced by the collaborative efforts and expertise of their partners, including Taifa Group, which brings substantial mining experience to the table.

As the project moves forward toward construction and production phases, Lake Victoria Gold is well-positioned to leverage its advances in metallurgical processing, paving the way for a promising future in gold mining. The forward-looking statements highlight the company’s dedication to continuously enhance project parameters that safeguard against economic uncertainties. The efforts remain focused on moving past mere data and testing toward an economically viable mining operation.

As they continue to navigate the complexities of the mining industry, Lake Victoria Gold is committed to ensuring that the Imwelo Gold project remains a key player within the thriving market of gold production in Tanzania, capitalizing on technical advancements and strong mineral resource management.