PERTH (miningweekly.com) – ASX-listed Pantoro is poised to start openpit mining at its Rowdies and Wagtail projects, in Western Australia, after receiving all the necessary approvals.
The miner said on Thursday that the openpit mining contractor had mobilised to site, and preparatory work had started.
Mining would start in October this year, and ore would be delivered to the processing plant in the first half of the December quarter. The openpit operations would have an initial mine life of nine months, and the ore would be blended with underground feed over a period of 16 months.
“Commencement of openpit mining underwrites the next phase of growth, targeting 50 000 oz/y at Nicholsons,” said Pantoro MD Paul Cmrlec.
“With openpit mining works and plant expansion under way, Pantoro will test the highly prospective zones beneath the current mineral resource at Rowdies and Wagtail. Drilling results to date are reminiscent of what we have seen at Nicholsons in terms of grade and continuity, and we believe that the deposits represent outstanding potential to identify our next high grade underground mine.”