PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Gold miner Resolute Mining has reported a slight drop in its production for the three months to June, compared with the previous three months, as it faced lower head grades at all three of its operations.

During the quarter under review, Resolute produced 102 685 oz of gold, compared with the 110 227 oz produced in the previous quarter, bringing its full-year production to 435 855 oz.

The miner reported that production at the Syama operation, in Mali, reached 51 382 oz during the quarter, compared with the 53 340 oz delivered in the three months to March.

Gold production at Syama was impacted by lower mill throughput, less availability and the lower headgrade, which was partially offset by increased recovery rates.

Gold output during the next quarter would be further reduced, as Resolute conducted major planned maintenance in the milling and roasting section of the plant.

Meanwhile, Resolute’s Ravenswood operation, in Australia, delivered some 34 495 oz of gold during the three months to June, compared with the 38 280 oz delivered in the previous three months.

The reduction in gold production was primarily owing to the lower grade from the Mt Wright deposit, while milled tonnes were also lower owing to a reduced throughput leading up to scheduled maintenance activities.

At Golden Pride, in Tanzania, Resolute delivered 16 808 oz of gold during the quarter, compared with the 18 607 oz delivered in the three months to March.

Resolute told shareholders that more ore was processed at Golden Pride than the previous quarter owing to improved crushing performance after the replacement crusher was installed in late April. However, low-grade fresh rock stocks comprised the majority of the blend compound during the quarter.

For the full 2014, Resolute was expecting to produce some 345 000 oz of gold, with the reduced production in line with expectations as the Golden Pride operation reached the end of its mine life.