WESTERN COPPER AND GOLD PROVIDES POSITIVE METALLURGICAL UPDATE

Core Insights - Western Copper and Gold Corporation announced positive results from a supplemental metallurgical program for its Casino Copper-Gold Project, indicating attractive recoveries and high-grade concentrates [1][6]. Metallurgical Program Overview - The metallurgical program utilized drill core composites from the 2023 diamond drilling program, which included more variable levels of copper, gold, and molybdenum than previous tests [2]. - The program achieved significantly higher molybdenum recoveries of approximately 90% in hypogene material, compared to 71% in the feasibility study [3]. Concentrate Quality - Casino is expected to produce high-grade copper and molybdenum concentrates with low impurity levels, making them highly marketable [4]. - The flotation concentrates demonstrated very good grades for copper and gold, with average values for penalty elements well below typical smelter contract terms [18][19]. Recovery and Processing Efficiency - The primary grind size for Casino is expected to be 210μm, which is favorable compared to similar projects, and initial tests suggest potential for further optimization without sacrificing recoveries [5][20]. - Locked cycle testing for hypogene composites showed consistently high copper recoveries and good quality concentrates, with an average molybdenum recovery of 90% [13]. Resource Composition - The Casino project consists of two main copper-gold zones: the Supergene Sulphide Zone (25% of the resource) and the Hypogene Zone (70% of the resource), with the remaining 5% being oxide materials [10].