Harte Gold has announced the first gold has been poured at Sugar Zone Mine, located 25 kilometres north of White River.
“With this achievement we have advanced from permitting the project to gold production in under four weeks, a significant accomplishment,” Harte Gold’s president and CEO, Stephen G. Roman said in an Oct. 16 news release. “Plant startup continues to run smoothly with no material issues reported.”
The company received the final operating permits to start commercial production at Sugar Zone in September.
The underground gold mine has an indicated mineral resource estimate of 2,607,000 tonnes grading 8.52 g/t, for 714,200 ounces contained gold, and an inferred mineral resource estimate of 3,590,000 tonnes, grading 6.59 g/t, for 760,800 ounces contained gold.
The operation is expected to employ 200 people.
Gold is being recovered using gravity processing, and a flotation concentrate being produced will be transported off-site for processing.
Harte Gold said it has restarted ore production from underground, which will add to the surface stockpile.
The company is also continuing underground development, advancing on average 8.2 metres per day, which exceeds budgeted development, according to the company. Five levels have been opened at the Sugar Zone south ramp, representing approximately six months of ore, which are now ready for longhole mining.
The company is currently completing a 100,000-metre drill program on near mine and exploration targets, which will be incorporated in an updated NI 43-101 compliant mineral resource estimate and mine plan targeted for Q1 2019. Exploration on the Sugar Zone property includes 83,850 hectares encompassing a significant greenstone belt.
