PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Junior Catalyst Metals has received approval to allow early works at its Trident underground deposit, in Western Australia.
The company on Thursday said that the mining proposal for a small mining operation had been approved by the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, providing the company with the regulatory approval to start portal construction and decline development from the existing Marwest openpit towards the Trident deposit.
The approval also enables platforms for underground exploration drilling.
“This is an important milestone for Catalyst. Completion of the definitive feasibility study is fast approaching,” said Catalyst MD and CEO James Champion de Crespigny.
“Subject to a final investment decision, this approval will allow us to commence early works at the Trident deposit. Importantly, this de-risks the project schedule by allowing critical construction works to commence while final mining approvals are sought.”
A previous scoping study into the Trident deposit estimated that the project would require a capital investment of A$36-million to produce an estimated 230 000 oz of gold over an initial four-and-a-half-year mine life.