PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Commissioning of the 2.5-million-tonne-a-year processing facility at the Thunderbox gold project, in Western Australia, has started.
Owner Saracen Mineral Holdings said this week that first ore had been introduced into the grinding circuit, after the refurbishment of all key areas of the processing plant, crushing, grinding and classification, leaching and adsorption.
“We remain positioned to complete commissioning and ramp-up to steady-state output ahead of the schedule and budget outlined in our March 2015 feasibility study,” MD Raleigh Finlayson said.
The A$65-million Thunderbox project would double Saracen’s production to 300 000 oz/y, at an all-in sustaining cost of about A$1 075/oz.
The project was slated to produce its first gold in June this year.