Matsa Resources has started hauling ore from the Devon Pit gold mine to FMR Investment’s Greenfields processing plant.
The Devon mine, located in the WA goldfields, is now fully operational, with ore being mined, stockpiled and transported for processing. The first 2000 tonnes of a planned 50,000-tonne parcel was delivered this week, signalling the start of an intensive logistics operation.
Matsa executive chairman Paul Poli welcomed the development as an achievement for the company.
“I am really pleased with this milestone achievement. The development progress at Devon has been excellent and now that we’re hauling to FMR for processing, things are getting really exciting,” Poli said.
“The mine set-up, infrastructure and material and equipment movement planning has fallen into place nicely, and whilst results so far are very pleasing, we are not getting distracted from ensuring the first 50,000t parcel of high-grade ore from Devon is delivered on time for a September quarter processing campaign and, importantly, our first gold sales.”
Matsa’s inaugural processing campaign is scheduled to begin on 17 September, with the first gold pour expected within seven days of commencement. Gold doré produced from the operation will be delivered to the Perth Mint for refining immediately after the pour.
Road train haulage to the processing plant is operating around the clock, currently utilising six trucks with plans to increase to 10 by late August and into September. The operation is expected to remain on schedule with previously established mine plans.
The Devon mine is forecast to operate for approximately 18 months, with sales expected to exceed 40,000 ounces of gold. Matsa’s second processing campaign is scheduled to start in mid-December.
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