Americas Gold and Silver Achieves Breakthrough With 99%+ Antimony Extraction From Its Copper Concentrate, Supporting Potential Primary Production in the United States
Metallurgical Breakthrough Unlocks Antimony and Gold Value
Antimony at the Galena Complex is hosted in the common sulfosalt mineral, tetrahedrite, which is an antimony sulfide of silver, copper, and iron. Although the Galena Complex has produced significant antimony over its life, the Company historically has not realized value for this material due to its then insufficient concentration and quality for smelter acceptance.
As previously announced (see the Company’s press release dated May 15, 2025), the Company commissioned SGS Canada Inc. (“SGS”) to conduct flotation tests on current mill feed. There were two objectives to this first phase of test work:
- Confirm that a copper/antimony/silver flotation product could be achieved from the tetrahedrite ore being processed through the Galena mill.
- Generate sufficient flotation concentrate for additional testing to extract antimony from the concentrate.
Phase One – Flotation recovery from tetrahedrite ore highlights:
-
Antimony Recovery: ~90 -
96% from ore grading ~1% Sb -
Silver Recovery: ~98 -
99% from ore grading ~50 oz/ton Ag -
Copper Recovery: ~96 -
98% from ore grading ~1% Cu -
Rougher Concentrate Grades: ~18 -
19% Sb, ~600 opt Ag &24% Cu
Phase Two – ASL Hydrometallurgical recovery from copper concentrate highlights:
-
Antimony Extraction: +
99% from flotation concentrate grading ~19% Sb -
Arsenic Extraction: +
72% from flotation concentrate - Silver, copper and iron: completely retained in the leached flotation concentrate at an enhanced grade
-
Gold Extraction: between 25
-60% from flotation concentrate
Paul Andre Huet, Chairman and CEO, commented: “I am thrilled that results of our test work have successfully demonstrated the potential to extract over
The results from the first phase of test work conducted on the tetrahedrite material indicate that a marketable copper concentrate is possible using modern metallurgical processes. This was a very positive first step.
Building on the results of the first phase of metallurgical test work, the second phase conducted at Allihies Engineering, Inc., focused on treating the copper concentrate from the first phase to produce a saleable antimony product. Such a product would open the door to monetize a long-overlooked by-product and reinforce the Company's strategic value within the
This second phase involved conducting tests on the copper concentrate to determine the extraction rate of antimony and gold. The result was over
Table 1: ASL Hydrometallurgical Leaching Test Results
Sample # |
Component |
Mass (g) |
As (%) |
Sb (%) |
Au (g/t) |
Ag (g/t) |
1 |
Feed |
25 |
1.86 |
18.7 |
3.22 |
26,100 |
Tails |
24.1 |
0.396 |
0.032 |
2.4 |
30,091 |
|
Recovery to Solution |
- |
79.5 |
99.8 |
28.1 |
- |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2 |
Feed |
25 |
1.94 |
19 |
2.12 |
25,700 |
Tails |
24.05 |
0.564 |
0.067 |
0.857 |
27,847 |
|
Recovery to Solution |
- |
72.0 |
99.7 |
61.1 |
- |
Allihies Engineering Inc. commented: “We have successfully optimized and applied our proprietary ASL technology to two rougher copper concentrates from the Galena Mine. At equilibrium, nearly
Background: Historical Antimony Production at Galena Complex
As shown in the table below, over 20 million pounds of antimony have been produced historically from the Galena Complex since 2001, based on final smelter settlement sheets. For many years during the period since 2001, the focus was on producing from non-tetrahedrite ore sources. Recent drilling since 2019 shows a large increase in the tetrahedrite ore which will become a focus for drilling and production going forward. If the potential for commercial recovery and product refinement can be realized, Americas Gold and Silver is positioned to become the only antimony end product supplier in
Table 2: Galena Mill Historical Production Based on Final Smelter Settlements (before payable deductions)
Year |
Concentrate |
Cu (%) |
Sb (%) |
Cu (lbs) |
Sb (lbs) |
|
Type |
Tons |
|||||
2024 |
Lead |
11,085 |
|
|
389,084 |
333,880 |
2023 |
Lead |
15,680 |
|
|
550,319 |
472,282 |
2022 |
Lead |
15,290 |
|
|
393,740 |
398,152 |
2021 |
Lead |
19,423 |
|
|
335,960 |
377,972 |
2020 |
Lead |
19,660 |
|
|
215,186 |
312,594 |
2019 |
Lead |
13,741 |
|
|
191,248 |
232,223 |
2018 |
Lead |
17,625 |
|
|
214,281 |
282,000 |
2017 |
Lead |
20,123 |
|
|
292,627 |
332,030 |
2016 |
Lead |
22,484 |
|
|
300,713 |
355,697 |
2015 |
Copper |
612 |
|
|
304,449 |
164,138 |
2015 |
Lead |
14,579 |
|
|
186,779 |
217,810 |
2014 |
Copper |
1,333 |
|
|
586,115 |
334,050 |
2014 |
Lead |
8,162 |
|
|
125,929 |
220,700 |
2013 |
Copper |
2,001 |
|
|
1,001,230 |
576,288 |
2013 |
Lead |
5,641 |
|
|
70,710 |
158,851 |
2012 |
Copper |
2,338 |
|
|
1,034,787 |
583,565 |
2012 |
Lead |
4,887 |
|
|
80,729 |
103,306 |
2011 |
Copper |
2,313 |
|
|
1,103,311 |
612,025 |
2011 |
Lead |
5,607 |
|
|
60,888 |
85,221 |
2010 |
Copper |
2,199 |
|
|
1,000,591 |
534,381 |
2010 |
Lead |
4,831 |
|
|
65,314 |
83,671 |
2009 |
Copper |
2,416 |
|
|
1,075,447 |
622,755 |
2009 |
Lead |
5,741 |
|
|
91,859 |
103,341 |
2008 |
Copper |
1,822 |
|
|
890,273 |
506,177 |
2008 |
Lead |
3,419 |
|
|
47,864 |
61,539 |
2007 |
Copper |
1,529 |
|
|
776,829 |
444,820 |
2007 |
Lead |
445 |
|
|
8,906 |
10,331 |
2006 |
Copper |
1,985 |
|
|
875,958 |
778,674 |
2005 |
Copper |
3,381 |
|
|
1,617,941 |
1,271,770 |
2004 |
Copper |
5,652 |
|
|
2,759,209 |
2,253,938 |
2003 |
Copper |
5,258 |
|
|
2,424,782 |
1,399,560 |
2002 |
Copper |
9,357 |
|
|
3,836,190 |
2,337,269 |
2001 |
Copper |
6,910 |
|
|
3,239,333 |
1,865,657 |
2000 |
Copper |
5,356 |
|
|
2,795,884 |
1,680,744 |
TOTAL / AVERAGE |
262,883 |
|
|
28,944,465 |
20,107,409 |
As shown in the table above, the amount of recovered antimony as compared to the recovered copper in the Galena flotation concentrate historically has been approximately 0.69-to-1. After recognizing this relationship earlier in the year, the Company sent out approximately 1,000 drill sample rejects from the tetrahedrite veins for analysis. Each sample was analyzed for copper and antimony. Table 3 is a summary of the results from this test work (detailed results are in the appendix to this report).
Table 3: Summary of Assay Results
Job |
Analysis |
Number |
Cu |
Sb |
Sb:Cu |
Number |
Date |
Samples |
(%) |
(%) |
|
B25-0080 |
4/12/2025 |
231 |
2.15 |
1.61 |
0.75 |
B25-0081 |
4/18/2025 |
226 |
3.33 |
2.11 |
0.63 |
B25-0082 |
4/18/2025 |
210 |
1.84 |
1.00 |
0.55 |
B25-0090 |
4/19/2025 |
332 |
1.11 |
0.68 |
0.61 |
Total |
|
999 |
2.01 |
1.29 |
0.64 |
These assay results indicate an antimony-to-copper ratio in the tetrahedrite ore that is approximately 0.64-to-1 (versus 0.69-to-1 reflected in the above historical results). Antimony and copper is predominantly hosted in the tetrahedrite ore at Galena, however, a small portion of the non-tetrahedrite material also hosts antimony and copper, boosting overall antimony production potential.
About Americas Gold and Silver Corporation
Americas Gold & Silver is a growing precious metals mining company with multiple assets in
Technical Information and Qualified Persons
The scientific and technical information relating to the Company’s material mining properties contained herein has been reviewed and approved by Rick Streiff, Executive Vice President – Geology of the Company. Mr. Streiff is a “qualified person” for the purposes of NI 43-101. The Company’s current Annual Information Form and the NI 43-101 Technical Reports for its mineral properties, all of which are available on SEDAR+ at www.sedarplus.ca, and EDGAR at www.sec.gov, contain further details regarding mineral reserve and mineral resource estimates, classification and reporting parameters, key assumptions and associated risks for each of the Company’s material mineral properties, including a breakdown by category.
All mining terms used herein have the meanings set forth in National Instrument 43-101 – Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects (“NI 43-101”), as required by Canadian securities regulatory authorities. These standards differ from the requirements of the SEC that are applicable to domestic
Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information:
This news release contains “forward-looking information” within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, Americas’ expectations, intentions, plans, assumptions, and beliefs with respect to, among other things, the recent results of metallurgical testing at its Galena Complex and the potential that a marketable antimony concentrate may now be possible using modern metallurgical processes, the Company's ability to become a primary antimony producer in
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For More Information:
Maxim Kouxenko - Manager, Investor Relations
M: +1 (647) 888-6458
E: ir@americas-gold.com
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Source: Americas Gold and Silver Corporation