Ann: Impressive Results from Bioleaching Pilot Plant Test, page-127

There is an interesting article in MarketOpen(ed) Issue #9 published 24 June 2023, titled How Microbes can help find critical minerals. The article features an interview with Andre Douchane and a discussion about bioleaching and application of the EcoBiome technology.

My impression is that harnessing nature through bioleaching is a transformative technology not just for Tres Estados and Ema but for the mining industry. It appears that BBX has positioned itself to pioneer the application of the technology in extracting precious metals from occluded ore bodies where the gold and PGEs are trapped inside microcrystals. As far as I understand there is a two part microbial process where firstly, the proprietary Ore Breaker breaks the tiny crystals apart and secondly, the proprietary Cultured Gold gathers the precious metals.

I can now more fully understand the comments by the CEO in the 27 June 2023 announcement where he discusses the results of the 3 separate tanks involved in the pilot plant test. It also appears that the the Cultured Gold process has been customised with microbes specifically chosen for the type of ore body at Tres Estados and Ema, hence the reference in the announcement to Cultured Platinum Group Metals microbes.