PERTH (miningweekly.com) - ASX- and TSX-listed nickel miner Mirabela Nickel has reported a slight decline in production for the fourth quarter ended December, but said on Tuesday that full-year production had remained within guidance.

During the three months to December, Mirabela produced 5 291 t of nickel in concentrate, compared with the 5 441 t produced in the previous three months. Full-year production reached 19 253 t nickel in concentrate.

Some 91 t of contained cobalt in concentrate was also produced during the quarter.

Mirabela reported that during the quarter under review, the total mined material reached 8.8-million tons, for over 1.8-million tons of ore. The material movement was at the low end of expectations, owing to restricted loader and excavator availabilities.

The mine schedule was running around one-month behind schedule at the end of the year.

Meanwhile, some 1.7-million tons of ore was milled during the quarter, at an average grade of 0.53%, achieving an average recovery of 59%. Mirabela noted that plant throughput was marginally lower than target, owing to the performance of the crushing circuit.

The first crushing line was scheduled for maintenance during the first half of this year, with the new second crushing line performance improving during the quarter.

Looking ahead, Mirabela was targeting production of between 22 000 t and 24 000 t of nickel in concentrate for 2013, with production expected to be stronger in the second half of the year, owing to improved access to higher quality South pit ore during the second half of the year, and scheduled maintenance work on the primary crusher during the first half of the year.

Capital expenditure and exploration and study costs for 2013 have been estimated at $40-million and $50-million respectively, with major items including mobile equipment rebuilds, and a tailings storage facility wall lift.