West Wits Mining chairperson Michael Quinert
ASX-listed West Wits Mining has received formal acceptance from South Africa's Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMRE) of its application for a new prospecting right, designated as PR10839.
PR10839 is strategically located adjacent to West Wits' already granted mining right at the Witwatersrand Basin Project (WBP), further south of the Qala Shallows operation within the WBP.
Further, the company, led by chairperson Michael Quinert, has another prospecting right application – PR10730 – already under consideration by the DMRE.
West Wits says the applications for the two prospecting rights are aimed at augmenting the mineral resources complementing the WBP mining right footprint awarded in July 2021, and at significantly extending the operational lifespan of West Wits' Kimberly Reef activities at its Qala Shallows operations.
Presently, the definitive feasibility study for Qala Shallows supports an ore reserve of 351 400 oz of gold, with a total production estimate of 924 000 oz over a life-of-mine (LoM) spanning 17.7 years.
"The approval of both prospecting rights would have the potential to considerably extend the WBP’s overall LoM and may provide essential support for the company's pursuit of establishing an independent treatment facility at Qala Shallows in the future," the company says.