Blackham Resources Limited: Matilda First Gold Pour
- First gold pour completed at Matilda Gold Project
- Funding deal to gold production in just 16 months
- Focus on ramp up and optimisation of Wiluna Gold Plant
- Prioritising Stage 2 plant expansion study
"We are extremely pleased to be Western Australia's newest gold producer and are delighted at reaching the milestone in just 16 months from completing our funding deal with Orion Mine Finance," commented Alan Thom, Blackham Director and Chief Operation's Officer.
Pouring gold 16 months after the Orion funding deal required the Blackham team to:
- complete a preliminary and a definitive feasibility study
- obtain mining and environmental approvals
- recruit a high performance operations team
- select and appoint contractors to commence mining in both the Matilda open pits and the Golden Age underground
- install and commission a new diesel power station
- refurbish and commission Stage 1 of the Wiluna Gold Plant
- build and commission the new tailings storage facility
"We would like to thank our shareholders, employees, contractors, the Wiluna Martu people, community stakeholders, government and members of the Board for all of their continued support in helping achieve gold production. The town of Wiluna has a long and significant mining history and the Matilda Gold Project will benefit all stakeholders." said Bryan Dixon, Blackham Managing Director.
Plant optimisation of both throughput and recovery are now underway with a view to maximising plant performance. Mining from the open pits and underground has contributed to stockpiles greater than five weeks mill feed. Blackham is focused on ramp up to commercial production.
Having quickly progressed to Stage 1 gold production, management are now fast tracking the Stage 2 expansion study aimed at increasing production to 175-230kozpa.
About the Matilda Gold Project
The Matilda Gold Project is located in Australia's largest gold belt which stretches from Norseman through Kalgoorlie to Wiluna. Blackham's 100% owned Wiluna gold plant has been refurbished to a name plate 1.7Mtpa and is located in the centre of the Matilda Gold Project. The expanded Matilda Gold Project now includes JORC 2012 Measured, Indicated and Inferred Resources of 48Mt @ 3.3g/t for 5.1Moz Au (refer to ASX release 27th June 2016) within an 860km2 tenement package that has historically produced in excess of 4.3 million ounces. Stage 1 gold production has now commenced. The Stage 2 Expansion study is underway aiming to grow production to 175-230kozpa and better monetarise the large resource.
To view the announcement, please visit:
http://abnnewswire.net/lnk/5Z4701SV
About Blackham Resources Ltd:
Blackham Resources Limited (ASX:BLK), is an emerging gold producer focused on its Matilda Gold Project in Western Australia where mining and production is imminent. Matilda €™s resources of 48Mt @ 3.3g/t for 5.1Moz, all within a 20km radius of its gold plant currently being re-commissioned. The Matilda Gold Project incorporates over 780 square kilometres of tenements and cover around 55 kilometres of strike along the Wiluna and Coles Find Mine Sequences. The Project has historically produced 4.3 million ounces of gold.
Contact:
Bryan Dixon Managing Director
Blackham Resources
T: +61-8-9322-6418
E: info@blackhamresources.com.au
www.blackhamresources.com.au
Tony Dawe
Professional Public Relations
T: +61-8-9388-0944