PERTH (miningweekly.com) – The Gruyere gold project, in Western Australia, has produced its first gold bars, with three dore gold bars totalling an estimated 1 139 oz produced from the carbon-in-leach and elution circuits.
Project partners Gold Fields and Gold Road Resources on Monday said that, with the delivery of the first gold bars now completed, the focus at the project would turn to the commissioning of the final components of the process plant, in particular the ball mill, which would be completed early in the September quarter.
Ramp-up to nameplate production is expected to happen within six to seven months from the commissioning of the ball mill. The project is forecast to attain commercial production mid-way through the ramp-up period.
Gold production is expected to continue until the ball mill is fully operational and has been integrated into the circuit.
“The pouring of the first gold at a global Tier 1 gold mine like Gruyere is a significant achievement. Gruyere is a tremendous asset based on a world-class orebody and a forecast long mine life,” said Gold Fields VP Stuart Mathews.
“The Gruyere joint venture’s focus now shifts to the safe and successful ramp-up to nameplate capacity to allow us to deliver full value to all stakeholders.”
The Gruyere project is expected to produce between 75 000 oz and 100 000 oz of gold in the 2019 calendar year, with final capital cost estimates in line with the previously announced A$621-million.
Average production over the life of the mine is expected to reach some 300 000 oz/y, at an all-in sustaining cost of some A$1 025/oz over a 12-year mine life.