Bellevue Gold has released its latest drilling results and mined tonnage figures, demonstrating the company is on track to achieve its second-half (H2) production guidance for the 2024–25 financial year (FY25).
Targeting 90,000 ounces (oz) of gold production in H2 FY25, Bellevue saw mining rates improve in December, with record stope tonnes achieved.
This comes after Bellevue faced lower grades earlier in the December quarter, leading the company to downgrade its production guidance from 165,000–180,000oz to 150,000–165,000oz in early January.
Underground mined tonnes now exceed a one-million-tonne-per-annum run rate and low-grade open pit stockpiles are no longer part of the processing feed for H2 FY25.
Bellevue is expected to mine higher grades in H2 FY25, as the company enters the higher-grade Armand, Marceline, Bellevue South/Viago production centres.
Tribune is forecasted to produce first stope ore in Q4 FY25, with development progressing strongly.
Bellevue’s H2 FY25 plan is underpinned by significant grade control drilling incorporated into thorough mine planning and scheduling.
Recent grade control drilling at the Armand deposit has found new high-grade ore, returning results such as 8.7m at 27.7 grams per tonne (g/t) gold, 9.9m at 41.9g/t gold and 4.1m at 53.1g/t gold. These intercepts will be targeted as part of the H2 FY25 mine schedule.
The Bellevue South production centre will see first development ore in the H2 FY25 and become an important contributor to Bellevue’s FY26 schedule.
Bellevue South has been extensively drilled, with new drill results including 5.6m at 81.3g/t gold and 5m at 50g/t gold.
Bellevue managing director Darren Stralow said the company has made strong progress in growing its namesake mining operation.
“This guidance of 90,000oz for the current half includes a ramp up to more than 50,000oz for the June 2025 quarter, taking us to an annualised rate of 200,000ozpa,” he said.
“We have five underground diamond drill rigs in operation, continuing grade control and exploration drilling.
“And we have invested heavily in infrastructure which has set up the mine as a long life, large-scale underground operation, ensuring this production level can be maintained and increased in future years.”
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