Aim-listed ECR Minerals has identified an additional mineralised quartz vein containing visible gold at the Maddens underground mine as the company works to develop the Maddens and Brothers mining operations within the Maddens Gold project, in Queensland.

Ore from the Maddens underground mine is being stockpiled on a run-of-mine pad ahead of future processing, while the next phase of development due to start soon comprises a decline to access the orebody.

Installation of a Knelson gravity concentrator is expected in coming weeks, which will support enhanced gravity gold recovery as the Maddens Gold project progresses towards production.

ECR has a 50% stake in the Maddens Gold project and has advanced several operational and technical workstreams for its development, including underground mine development, geological evaluation, processing plant enhancements and preparations for trial alluvial mining. ECR's strategy is to establish multiple gold production opportunities from a single operating hub.

Meanwhile, operational personnel and equipment continue to be mobilised at the Brothers mining lease area, with encouraging prospecting results supporting a planned trial alluvial mining programme. The company decided earlier this year to redeploy operational personnel and equipment from the Raglan deposit to Brothers to advance a near-term alluvial operation.

The Maddens Gold project comprises the historic Maddens Flat Group of Mines, including the Maddens and Brothers mining operations, which form part of a group of seven mining leases, including processing infrastructure and significant exploration upside across the wider project areas.

The ECR board believes that the combination of established infrastructure, multiple historic mining centres and nearer-term production opportunities provides ECR with a strong platform from which to develop a long-term gold production business in North Queensland.

Alongside underground development, ECR has continued to enhance its understanding of the broader Maddens Gold project through the application of modern geological techniques.

Commenting on the company's latest developments, nonexecutive director Mike Parker says one of the most exciting aspects of ECR's recent work is seeing the geological model continue to evolve as underground development progresses.

"Every metre of development not only moves us closer to production but may also provide valuable geological information that improves our understanding of the overall Maddens Gold project.

"The identification of a separate mineralised quartz vein during development, together with the early interpretation of our recently completed LiDAR survey, suggests that there is still considerable potential to expand our understanding of the mineralised system beyond the historically mined areas. While further work is required, these are exactly the types of observations we had hoped to see as we systematically develop the project," he explains.

Parker says the company's focus is now firmly on execution. Underground development is generating ore for future processing, preparations for the next phase of decline development are well advanced and upgrades to the processing plant continue. Collectively, these activities represent important steps towards bringing the Maddens Gold project into production.