JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Operational improvements at New Liberty gold mine, in Liberia, have resulted in West African gold producer Avesoro Resources, formerly Aureus Mining, delivering a 34% increase in gold production during the fourth quarter of 2016.
The TSX- and Aim-listed group produced 18 872 oz of gold for the three months to December 31, in line with its 17 000 oz to 20 000 oz guidance, bringing full-year gold output to 63 556 oz.
“Following the successful transition to owner-operator mining, the company is also now focused on bringing a number of additional outsourced activities in-house and further optimising the operation,” said Avesoro CEO Serhan Umurhan in an update to shareholders on Thursday.
The material mined during the quarter under review increased 76% quarter-on-quarter to some 3.3-million tonnes, while New Liberty stabilised its processing operations and brought its plant utilisation for the period to 91%.
During the December quarter, Avesoro processed 269 081 t of ore at an average feed grade of 2.09 g/t with gold recovery levels increasing 13% quarter-on-quarter to 87%.