PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Gold junior Focus Minerals has resumed openpit mining at its Coolgardie operations, in Western Australia, and has started commissioning of the 1.2-million-tonne-a-year Three Mile Hill processing facility.
First gold from Coolgardie is targeted for later this quarter.
“Focus is very pleased to announce the resumption of mining activities and the commissioning of the refurbished Three Mile Hill plant at the Coolgardie gold operation,” said executive chairperson Wanghong Yang.
“This achievement has resulted from diligent planning and the good work of our team together with our contracting partners on the pathway to production.
“Commissioning of the plant will now proceed toward full capacity in the following months. Mining commencement of the Greenfields openpit earlier this month is also a significant milestone achieved with our openpit mining contractor Ozland Mining Services. Working closely with Focus, Ozland has delivered a professional and rapid commencement to mining activities backed up by robust management systems and support.”
A new life-of-mine plan at Coolgardie estimated that 402 000 oz of gold could be produced over a seven-year mine life.