PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Junior gold developer Anova Metals has reported the start of mine development at the Second Fortune operation, in Western Australia.
Anova, which in June this year merged with fellow-listed Exterra Resources, on Tuesday told shareholders that mining contractor GBF had been mobilised to site and had started portal development.
Mine dewatering, camp expansions and other site preparations were also progressing as planned.
In preparation for mine development, a reverse circulation drilling programme has been completed to test the grades and vein thickness in the first mining levels, with holes designed to intercept the planned stopes immediately below previous mine workings.
Anova said that the results from this drilling were consistent with expected grades and thickness.
A feasibility study into the Second Fortune mine found that the project could deliver 73 000 oz over an initial two-year mine life. The study considered the development of a mine below the existing openpit operation, generating a sorted concentrate for toll treatment.