https://www.engineeringnews.co.za

Blakham expecting less from Matilda/Wiluna in 2017

3rd April 2017

By: Esmarie Iannucci

Creamer Media Senior Deputy Editor: Australasia

     

Font size: - +

PERTH  (miningweekly.com) – Gold miner Blackham Resources has downgraded the production expectations at its Matilda/Wiluna project, in Western Australia, on the back of heavy rainfalls and lower mill grades.

Blackham had initially forecast output of 60 000 oz to 70 000 oz of gold in the financial year to June 30; however, the miner on Monday downgraded this to between 42 000 oz and 51 000 oz.

Since declaring commercial production in January, the Matilda/Wiluna site has received 265 mm of rain, compared with the 110 mm historical average for the quarter. Total rainfall in March was four-times that of historical March averages.

Some 26 days of openpit mining was lost during this period, including 15 days towards the end of March.

Blackham noted that all the openpits at Matilda have experienced slow dig rates due to the wet conditions, which significantly reduced the total material and ore mined.

Significantly less underground ore was also extracted from the Golden Age underground mine, and both development and stope tonnes and ounces were lower than anticipated, with stoping production taking longer to ramp up. The mining schedule at Golden Age is being amended and a revised mine plan will be updated over the coming weeks.

Edited by Creamer Media Reporter

Article Enquiry

Email Article

Save Article

Feedback

To advertise email advertising@creamermedia.co.za or click here

Showroom

Rentech
Rentech

Rentech provides renewable energy products and services to the local and selected African markets. Supplying inverters, lithium and lead-acid...

VISIT SHOWROOM 
VEGA Controls SA (Pty) Ltd
VEGA Controls SA (Pty) Ltd

For over 60 years, VEGA has provided industry-leading products for the measurement of level, density, weight and pressure. As the inventor of the...

VISIT SHOWROOM 

Latest Multimedia

sponsored by

Option 1 (equivalent of R125 a month):

Receive a weekly copy of Creamer Media's Engineering News & Mining Weekly magazine
(print copy for those in South Africa and e-magazine for those outside of South Africa)
Receive daily email newsletters
Access to full search results
Access archive of magazine back copies
Access to Projects in Progress
Access to ONE Research Report of your choice in PDF format

Option 2 (equivalent of R375 a month):

All benefits from Option 1
PLUS
Access to Creamer Media's Research Channel Africa for ALL Research Reports, in PDF format, on various industrial and mining sectors including Electricity; Water; Energy Transition; Hydrogen; Roads, Rail and Ports; Coal; Gold; Platinum; Battery Metals; etc.

Already a subscriber?

Forgotten your password?

MAGAZINE & ONLINE

SUBSCRIBE

RESEARCH CHANNEL AFRICA

SUBSCRIBE

CORPORATE PACKAGES

CLICK FOR A QUOTATION







301

sq:0.065 1.398s - 140pq - 2rq
Subscribe Now