JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Junior mining company Kidman Resources said on Wednesday that it would resume production at its Burbanks gold mine, near Coolgardie, in Western Australia, after a period of successful underground mine development.
The Dahmu mineral resource had been accessed on the 1 350 level with strike driving now under way. Stoping of some remnant mining blocks on the Dahmu and Tailor resource had also started, resulting in a small stockpile on the run-of-mine pad.
Kidman acquired an initial 80% interest in Burbanks in May 2015 and produced 5 742 oz at an average grade of 2.47 g/t between September 2015 and December 2015.
The company later bought the remaining 20% interest from joint venture partner Blue Tiger Mining, which paved the way for the junior to make operational improvements at the mine.
Kidman said that the appointment of underground mining contractor Pybar in the March 2016 quarter had resulted in significant improvements at the mine site.
Since the contractor mobilised to site, over 240 m of development had been completed, while improvements had been made to underground infrastructure, the dewatering system, electrical reticulation, power supply and safety at the mine site.
Kidman said it had also adopted hand-held mining methods at Burbanks, which were better suited to its narrow vein, high-grade mineral resource. Historical production of 820 900 t at 13.9 g/t producing 366 000 oz was recorded.
The company had also started planning for an improved water management system that would allow it to consider accessing “Burbanks Deeps”. This area around the historic 7 level was 100 m below the current limit of mine workings.