JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – ASX-listed gold producer Ramelius Resources on Wednesday announced record gold sales and production at its Wattle Dam underground mine, in Western Australia.

The company said in a statement that gold sales in the month of December had totalled A$19,9-million, which was more than the total gold sale during any previous full financial year.

“This gold sales result underscores the potential of our Wattle Dam underground ore to deliver exceptional operating results,” said Ramelius CEO Ian Gordon.

Ramelius also reported that gold production at the Wattle Dam operation had topped 19 970 oz, at 40,88 g/t gold from the milling of the initial project development ore parcel.

Gordon said that the results from milling of the first development ore parcel were good, with the actual grades more than three times that estimated from the underground sampling of 12,62 g/t.

The grade overcall was similar to what was encountered during previous mining campaigns at the project area. Gordon noted that the grade overcall also provided the company with a high degree of confidence that the underground development grades would continue to outperform base case estimates.

“In line with our mine plan, Ramelius has started stoping high-grade underground ore at Wattle Dam, and expects to start milling this material from late January.”

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