PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Australian gold major Newcrest Mining has reported a 6% increase in quarterly production for the three months to the end of December, as its Telfer gold/copper mine in the Great Sandy Desert of Pilbara increased its output.

For the three months under review, Newcrest produced 621 125 oz of gold and 22 603 t of copper, compared with the 586 573 oz of gold and 19 632 t of copper produced in the September quarter.

Production from the Telfer operation was up 27% on the previous quarter, with the mine producing 156 789 oz of gold and 7 352 t of copper. The increased production resulted from higher gold grades, an increase in mill throughput and higher gold recoveries.

The increased gold grade reflected a higher proportion of underground feed to the plant during the quarter, following the disruption to the hoisting system in the previous quarter, Newcrest said.

At the New South Wales-based Cadia Valley operations, Newcrest produced 151 305 oz of gold and 15 251 t of copper during the quarter, with gold production down 2% on the previous quarter as the mine ceased processing low-grade stockpiles.

Mill throughput at Cadia Valley was also 32% lower during the quarter, but average gold grade increased by 39%.

At the Lihir mine, in Papua New Guinea, gold production fell by 4% on the previous quarter, to 187 591 oz, as a 2% increase in mill throughput was offset by a 2% decline in gold grades and a 4% reduction in gold recoveries.

The Hidden Valley operation, also in Papua New Guinea, delivered 24 792 oz of gold and 272 710 oz of silver during the quarter, while the Gosowong mine, in Indonesia, produced 77 990 oz of gold.

The Bonikro mine, in Côte d’Ivoire, delivered 22 657 oz of gold during the quarter, up 27% on the previous quarter owing to the delivery of higher-grade ore from the openpit mine, and a 5% increase in mill throughput during the quarter.

Looking ahead, Newcrest expects to deliver on its 2.3-million-ounce production guidance for the 2014 financial year.