PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Gold miner Evolution Mining has produced the first concentrate at its Mt Carlton gold/silver/copper mine, in north Queensland, following the commissioning of the 800 000 t/y plant.
The miner said on Monday that the company would now focus on ramping-up the plant to full capacity, which would likely be achieved in the September quarter.
The project was expected to produce some 720 000 oz of gold, 14.4-million ounces of silver and 25 000 t of copper in concentrate over a 12-year life-of-mine.
“Achieving this milestone is an outstanding result and is a tribute to the excellent team we have at Mt Carlton. Once in full production, Mount Carlton is expected to be our lowest-cost mine,” said executive chairperson Jake Klein.
The Mt Carlton deposit was discovered in 2006 and construction started five years later, in December 2011.
“This remarkably rapid timeframe for permitting and development underpins our belief that Australia and Queensland in particular is an excellent destination for investment, exploration and mining,” said Klein.
In August last year, Evolution warned that the capital costs for the Mt Carlton project had increased to some A$170-million, instead of the original estimate of A$145-million, as cost pressures increased.