Solitario Resources Corp. (NYSE American: XPL; TSX: SLR) has reported favorable metallurgical gold recovery test results for its Golden Crest project in South Dakota. Testing on mineralized rock from two key drill holes returned average gold recoveries of 66% and 69%, suggesting the gold is well-suited to standard extraction methods.
Solitario is a Wheat Ridge-based natural resource exploration company focused on Tier-1 gold and zinc exploration projects.
“These results are very encouraging and confirm that the gold we’re finding can be efficiently processed,” said Chris Herald, Solitario’s president and CEO. He added that the geology and metallurgy of the mineralization appear similar to the nearby Wharf-Homestake district, a historic gold-producing region.
Drilling at Golden Crest is set to resume on May 27, 2025. The upcoming program will unfold in two phases: the first targeting extensions of 2024 discoveries and new areas within the existing plan of operations, and the second expanding into nearby zones pending permit approval. Solitario plans to operate two drill rigs later this summer to accelerate progress.
In total, the company has identified 10 high-priority exploration targets, five of which are already in permitting for this year’s drilling. Several more areas are undergoing early-stage evaluation. The Golden Crest property is 100% owned by Solitario and lies within the broader Homestake-Wharf district, which has produced over 50 million ounces of gold historically and remains a highly prospective region for new discoveries.
