Orminex abuzz at ore strikes
RECENT wide ore strikes and multiple development headings at Orminex Limited’s Comet Vale mine have confirmed potential for high grade product.
According to the company, mining development continues to progress well at the joint venture project in WA’s Goldfields, with the decline now advanced below the 4.3 level, including completion of the 4 level and 4.3 level accesses and is now focused on accessing the 4.6 level.
It said initial ore development along strike on the 4.3 level was “very encouraging”, with ore widths and grades exceeding expectation and providing the company with increased confidence in its ability to deliver on the mine plan.
Stoping of the 3.3 and 3.6 levels is performing in line with expectations and continues to reinforce the high-grade potential of the project.
With multiple ore headings and steadily building surface ore stocks, the mine continues to make good progress towards a steady state of production.
Development and processing ores are being stockpiled on site, ready for the next processing campaign at the Lakewood Mill.
The stockpile currently has an estimate of more than 10,000t — a combination of development ore and fresh ore.
The next processing campaign is booked for this month (July) and the company expects to process up to 20,000t.
Orminex has continued a process of face sampling gold bearing structures along the strikes, confirming the ongoing high-grade potential of the project.
Mining at the 4.3 level has intersected a rare “jewellery box” of visible gold.
A single face cut at that level provided coarse, visible high-grade gold, hosted in a strongly laminated quartz vein.
Orminex executive chairman Daryl Henthorn recently hosted Wylie Group (a cornerstone Orminex investor) executive chairman Wayne McGrath, along with GBF Underground Mining (Orminex strategic alliance partner) principals Ross Graham and Michael Foulds on an underground inspection of mining, development and stoping activities.
Welcoming the progress of the Kings Bounty Decline at Comet Vale, Mr McGrath said the steady state production at the mine would underpin the alliance’s Mineral Ventures model and support the development of future projects.