Photo by: West Gold
Name: Meekatharra Gold Operations (MGO).
Location: The MGO is located in the historic gold mining centres of Meekatharra North, Paddy’s Flat, Yaloginda, Nannine and Reedy’s, in Central Murchison, in Western Australia.
Mine Owner/s: West Gold.
Brief Description: At the centre of MGO’s output is the Paddy’s Flat underground mine, which West Gold has been running for the past four years. The operation also includes two other underground mines – South Emu and Triton – at the Reedy’s gold mining centre, and the Bluebird underground mine at Yaloginda, south of the Bluebird processing plant.
The Bluebird mine is in development. South Emu is at steady-state production and the Triton underground lodes are being developed. These underground mines will amalgamate to produce more than 105 000 oz/y to the Bluebird processing plant over the long term.
Underground ores are augmented by a sequence of smaller openpits, mainly cutbacks that have become economically viable as the gold price has risen.
Brief History: Not stated.
Primary Metals/Minerals: Gold.
Secondary Metals/Minerals: None stated.
Geology/Mineralisation: The gold deposits are hosted by an Archaean greenstone belt sequence, within the Murchison province of the Yilgarn Craton. The greenstone belt is narrow, steeply dipping, strongly attenuated and locally overturned, forming the western limb of a north-plunging regional antiform.
The mineralisation is associated with a distinctive lode horizon, which corresponds to the highly deformed felsic sequence.
Reserves: Total proven and probable reserves as at June 30, 2020, were estimated at 4.98-million tonnes grading 2.72 g/t gold.
Resources: Total mineral resources as at June 30, 2020, were estimated at 54.83-million t grading 1.92 g/t gold.
Mining Method: Underground.
Major Infrastructure and Equipment: MGO comprises the Bluebird 1.6-million-tonne-a-year, carbon-in-pulp processing plant and associated infrastructure, including a workers village for 350 people?.
Prospects: Openpit mining is expected to start at the Five Mile Well, Maid Marion, Albury Heath and Aladdin pits in 2021.
Contact Details:
West Gold Resources
Tel +61 8 9462 3400
Email perth.reception@westgold.com.au
Website https://www.westgold.com.au