Underground mining operations at Brightstar’s two owner-operated mines delivered over 7,000 ounces of gold during the September quarter.
The total production at the company’s Second Fortune and Fish mines, both part of its Laverton hub in Western Australia, represented a 91 per cent increase on its June quarter result.
At Second Fortune, 32,000 tonnes of ore was mined at an average grade of 3.4 grams per tonne (g/t) gold, for a total of 3,446 ounces.
At Fish, 37,000 tonnes of ore produced 3.556 ounces of gold (3.0 g/t). The Fish result was based on just over one month of commercial production, with stoping activities having commenced in late August.
The total September result of 2,844 ounces produced was above Brightstar’s previously announced group monthly production outlook of 2,400 to 2,800 ounces per month.
The next processing campaign is scheduled for early November, and will be the first to be fully comprised of the high-grade ore from Brightstar’s underground operations. The company will utilise Genesis Minerals’ Laverton Mill for its processing.
Brightstar managing director Alex Rovira said the result was borne from the hard work of both the Fish and Second Fortune site teams.
“With mine production now approaching the steady-state production profile, focus remains on maximising efficiencies and minimising costs – with Brightstar targeting the lower end of the stated group all-in sustaining cost range of $3,800 to $4,000 per ounce,” he said.
“Our strong operating performance is delivered by Brightstar’s owner-operator workforce, which encapsulates all site functions from maintenance, through to underground operators and technical services staff across both mine sites.”
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