The metallurgical result and its implications are addressed in a ROTH Capital Partners report.
In an Aug. 14 research note, ROTH Capital Partners analyst Jake Sekelsy reported that the final results from the metallurgical work done at Vista Gold Corp.'s (VGZ:NYSE.MKT; VGZ:TSX) Mt. Todd gold project in Australia were positive. Accordingly, ROTH increased its target price on the gold company to US$1.60 per share from US$1.40. The current share price, in comparison, is US$0.86.
Sekelsky highlighted that testing resulted in recoveries in the low-90% range, "a significant increase" over the 86.4% outlined in the prefeasibility study. This recovery rate was determined from 71 samples of various grades from the main Batman deposit at Mt. Todd, "which we believe provides a representative sample of the deposit as a whole."
Next for Vista Gold, the analyst indicated, is updating the prefeasibility study, specifically the costs and foreign exchange rates within it, and incorporating the metallurgical results as well. "In short, we expect the updated prefeasibility study to feature enhanced economics relative to the existing prefeasibility study," Sekelsky added, noting such an updated study would be the "largest" short-term catalyst for the company.
Based on the recent metallurgical results, ROTH adjusted its model on Vista Gold, increasing, but remaining conservative on, the estimated average recovery rate at Mt. Todd to 90% rather than 87%, wrote Sekelsky. Also, "we believe additional upside remains via an update to foreign exchange rates utilized in the prefeasibility study."
ROTH, which considers Vista Gold a Buy, expects the Mt. Todd project "to continue to provide investors with strong leverage to higher gold prices," Sekelsky concluded.