PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Metals miner Independence Group has reported solid quarterly production results from its Tropicana gold and its Long nickel mines, in Western Australia.

Independence on Wednesday reported that the Tropicana joint venture (JV) with AngloGold Ashanti delivered 121 195 oz of gold during the second quarter ended December, which was up from the 100 038 oz delivered in the first quarter.

Independence’s share of production during the quarter was 36 356 oz.

Tropicana’s production during the quarter was assisted by record ore processed at the site, at an average grade of 2.24 g/t.

The Long nickel mine delivered 2 063 t of contained nickel during the December quarter, which was in line with the 2 166 t produced during the previous quarter.

The Jaguar zinc and copper mine saw a decrease in production from 10 309 t of zinc and 1 887 t of copper in the first quarter, to 8 331 t of zinc and 869 t of copper in the second quarter.

Copper and zinc production at Jaguar were lower owing to lower grades and lower underground production, Independence said. The lower mining rates were primarily attributable to the bridging of long hole slots in poorly fragmented ground, as well as a shortage of sufficient underground staff.

Meanwhile, the development of the Nova nickel project, also in Western Australia, continued during the quarter, with the project producing its first concentrate during the three months to December.

Commissioning of the processing plant also occurred during the quarter, and first concentrate shipments were made in December. The underground mine is expected to ramp up to full production of 125 000 t/m around mid-year.

“The December quarter saw many significant milestones being achieved at Tropicana and Nova, and good progress being achieved elsewhere,” said Independence MD and CEO Peter Bradford.