Western Areas posts highest output, lowest costs in nearly two years
PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Nickel miner Western Areas has reported its highest production and its lowest unit cash costs since December 2011, with its Spotted Quoll underground mine achieving record production during the three months to September.
Total production for the quarter under review reached 8 290 t of nickel in ore, at an average grade of 5.1% nickel, with unit cash costs reduced to A$2.28/lb.
The Spotted Quoll mine produced 77 097 t of ore during the period, at an average grade of 5.3% nickel, for a total production of 4 090 t. This was a 58% increase over the June quarter production.
The Flying Fox mine produced 86 642 t of ore, at 4.8% nickel, for 4 200 t of contained nickel.
The increased production was ascribed to quicker stope cycle turnover at the Spotted Quoll mine, resulting from refinements in the paste fill mix, as well as efficient slot firings to bring stope panels on line with minimal drilling.
Nickel sales during the September quarter amounted to 43 356 t of concentrate, containing 6 554 t of contained nickel. This compared with the 7 222 t of contained nickel sold during the previous three months.
At the end of the quarter, 151 232 t of ore, at an average grade of 4.2% nickel, containing over 6 339 t of nickel, was stockpiled at site, awaiting treatment at the Cosmic Boy concentrator.
The current stockpile represented around three months of mill feed and enabled the selection of an optimal mill feed blend, said Western Areas.
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