JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – The Challenger gold mine, in South Australia, which was reopened in May, has achieved its targeted mining rate after a ramp-up period of about six weeks, new owners WPG Resources and Diversified Minerals reported on Monday.
Challenger has a targeted mining rate of 360 000 t/y, which is equivalent to about 7 000 t a week.
The mine has a target of achieving 50 000 oz/y of recovered gold, which is the equivalent of just under 1 000 oz a week, which the owners said had also been met.
To date, WPG Resources and Diversified Minerals have shipped 4 562 oz from Challenger and sold 3 794 oz of gold for A$6.7-million.
The mine produced its first gold bar under its new ownership on May 31.