PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Gold junior Beadell Resources is expecting to sell its first iron-ore product during the December quarter from its Tucano gold mine, in Brazil.
So far, a stockpile of more than 20 000 t has been accumulated, and the ASX-listed company stated on Thursday that initial assay results had indicated a premium product averaging some 66.5% iron, with very low contaminant levels.
Beadell noted that the first sales would positively impact the company’s gold cash costs.
Iron-ore feedstock from Beadell’s openpits was supplied to the Anglo Ferrus beneficiation plant, with some 420 000 t mined and invoiced during the quarter.
Beadell has previously reported that gold recovery during the three months to September had increased by more than 50%, as high-grade ore from its Duckhead deposit was delivered to the Tucano plant.
The miner recovered 55 094 oz of gold during the quarter, with head grade increasing by more than 36% on the previous quarter.
First-half production at Tucano was expected to reach between 120 000 oz and 130 000 oz, at a cash cost of between $435/oz and $485/oz.