JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Preproduction mining has started at Aim-listed Hummingbird Resources’ Yanfolila project, in Mali, which remains on schedule for its first gold pour by the end of this year.
The preproduction mining, which is being undertaken by contractor African Mining Services (AMS), will ramp up over the next three months. By end-November, Hummingbird expects more than three-million tonnes of material to have been moved.
During the first phase of mining there will be areas of free dig material, as well as material that will require light blasting. Blasting will be conducted using nonelectric down hole delay detonators with ammonium nitrate fuel oil for dry holes and emulsion explosives for wet holes.
AEL Mining Services will supply and store the explosives.
“Commencement of mining activities at Yanfolila is a significant milestone for Hummingbird as we continue to bring the project closer to production by the end of this year. Our contract mining partners, AMS, have mobilised a significant fleet to site and this commitment emphasises the momentum the project has gained throughout the year.
“As we enter the final months of construction, we remain on time and budget for first gold by the end of 2017. We will look to build on the current momentum as we ramp up to full scale mining and production,” Hummingbird CEO Dan Betts commented on Tuesday.
Yanfolila will produce about 132 000 oz of gold in its first full year of production.
Production will average about 107 000 oz/y of gold over the life of the mine.