Photo by: Bloombeg
PERTH (miningweekly.com) – ASX-listed Sandfire Resources has reported an increase in copper and gold production for the three months to December 31, as its DeGrussa mine, in Western Australia, achieved marginally higher grades.
Copper production increased from 16 638 t in the September quarter to 17 642 t in the quarter under review, while gold production increased from 7 885 t to 9 420 t during the same period.
Sandfire told shareholders on Thursday that copper production for the December quarter was ahead of guidance, owing to an average copper grade of 4.8%, compared with the 4.7% reported in the previous three months.
Mill throughput for the period under review reached 1.6-million tonnes a year, with a total of 403 806 t of ore milled.
Meanwhile, a total of 63 075 t of plant concentrate, containing 15 143 t of copper and 7 147 oz of gold was sold for the quarter.
Looking ahead, Sandfire was targeting a full-year copper production at the upper end of between 65 000 t and 68 000 t, while gold production would be at the lower end of between 35 000 oz and 40 000 oz.