PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Gold developer Azumah Resources has reported a 45% increase in the ore reserve at its Wa mine, in Ghana, underpinning an initial mine life of seven years.
The ASX-listed company on Tuesday reported that the project was estimated to host a Joint Ore Reserves Committee-compliant resource of 9.1-million tonnes, grading 2.14 g/t gold for 624 000 oz of gold, over the Kunche, Bepkong and Julie deposits.
“This considerably larger mining inventory underpins Azumah’s objective of delivering a feasibility study for a substantially de-risked development-ready, 100 000 oz/y, initial seven-year mine life openpit gold operation at the Wa project,” said MD Stephen Stone.
He noted that an average head grade of 2.14 g/t gold, overall gold recovery of 92%, granted mining leases, grid power to site, good infrastructure and an opportunity to grow the mineral resource confirmed Wa’s development credentials.
The increase in the ore reserve was derived mainly from the Julie deposit, which saw a 173% increase in ore reserves, based on an increase in the mineral resource. An additional mining inventory of some 28 500 oz is estimated to be contained as inferred mineralisation within the Kunche and Julie pits, and in optimised pits at Aduane and Collette.
The Wa feasibility study was slated for completion by the next quarter, and would advance in parallel with the environmental permitting, infrastructure arrangements and key supply contracts.