North Bay Resources CEO Jarad Lazerson joined Steve Darling from Proactive to discuss the exciting results from recent gravity recovery testing of run-of-mine ore from the Mt. Vernon Gold Mine. The ore was processed using a ball mill, crushed to minus 60 mesh, and then run over a gravity recovery table. This process resulted in two concentrate streams, each yielding approximately ten times the concentration of gold.
Lazerson shared that this milestone was achieved through the combined operations of North Bay’s Bishop Gold Mill and the newly acquired Mount Vernon Gold Mine in Sierra County. The integration of these two projects, each with the capability to process 100 tons per day, has proven to be highly successful, particularly with the unexpected discovery of high platinum content in the concentrate. The rarity of platinum extraction through gravity methods in this region, traditionally known for its high-grade gold production, adds significant value to North Bay’s operations. One of the most remarkable findings was that one of the concentrate circuits produced more platinum than gold, a development that could substantially enhance the profitability of their mining efforts, especially considering platinum’s market price of around $1,000 per ounce.
Lazerson emphasized the importance of this concentration step, which serves as a green light for further production and monetization activities. As North Bay Resources continues to advance its operations, the company is preparing to refine the concentrate into doré bars and platinum buttons. The final processing will be handled by a nearby refinery in Reno, marking a key step towards full-scale production and potential revenue generation.
