Patagonia Gold begins heap leaching at Calcatreu in Río Negro

The company has launched the operational phase of the Calcatreu project after completing key infrastructure works and securing the required regulatory approvals.

Patagonia Gold Corp. has announced the start of heap leaching operations at its Calcatreu project in Río Negro province, marking a new milestone in the project’s development and moving it into the gold recovery stage.

This operational phase begins after the completion of key infrastructure works, the successful commissioning of core systems and the receipt of the necessary regulatory approvals.

Calcatreu begins gold recovery after completing key infrastructure

With this milestone, the company has started applying leaching solution to the stacked ore, opening a new phase in the project’s development. At present, Calcatreu has more than 91,300 tonnes of material sourced from the Veta 49 pit.

Of that total, 73,300 tonnes have already been crushed and stockpiled, while 18,800 tonnes have been placed on the leach pad, where the metal recovery process is now underway.

This step places Calcatreu in a decisive stage, shifting from construction and preparation into direct operational activity linked to production.

Calcatreu is based on a gold and silver epithermal system

The project is being developed on a multi-vein gold and silver epithermal system, a geological feature that reinforces its relevance within Argentina’s mining sector.

According to the company, the project has been developed under international standards in environmental management, safety and community relations, all of which remain key to its long-term viability and continuity.

Next phases include loaded carbon treatment and doré production

During this new stage, heap leaching operations will continue with a focus on monitoring solution flow and recovery efficiency. At the same time, the company expects to advance into the next phases of the process, including loaded carbon treatment and subsequent doré production.

This marks another important step in the operational consolidation of Calcatreu, a project that aims to become a new contributor to mining activity in Río Negro.

Patagonia Gold to publish updated technical report in the second quarter of 2026

Alongside the start of leaching, Patagonia Gold said it is continuing work on an updated technical report for the project under international standards. The publication of that report is expected in the second quarter of 2026.

The updated version will include new information on the progress of Calcatreu, as the company continues to advance the project technically and operationally.

With this latest milestone, Calcatreu enters a key phase in its evolution, combining infrastructure development, the activation of metallurgical processes and the progression toward future production stages in Río Negro.