JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – ASX-listed Kidman Resources remained “firmly on track” to achieve its objective of starting gold production at the recently acquired Burbanks mine, in Western Australia, in the September quarter, the company reported on Tuesday.
The Burbanks mining centre has historical production of 366 340 oz at an average grade of 13.9 g/t from openpit and underground sources. Kidman would source ore from the Christmas openpit and Birthday Gift underground mines.
The company reported that it had completed the planned drilling programme in the Christmas openpit and that it was awaiting a Joint Ore Reserves Committee-compliant mineral resource estimate. It had also been active in the Birthday Gift mine to prepare it for production.
Significant surface infrastructure earthworks had also been undertaken in preparation for a new office, change house and ablution facilities for the workforce. The site access road had been relocated from adjacent the mine workings to the southern end of the project, which Kidman said would result in improvements to site security and minimise interactions between light and heavy vehicles accessing the site.
The company has recruited about 90% of the underground workforce for the mine.