Inata Gold Mine Expansion Update (2595B)
April 13 2012 - 2:00AM
UK Regulatory
TIDMAVM
RNS Number : 2595B
Avocet Mining PLC
13 April 2012
Inata Gold Mine Expansion Update
Avocet Mining PLC ("Avocet" or "the Company"), the 90% owner and
manager of the Inata Gold Mine in Burkina Faso, announces an update
on the ongoing study to expand the Inata Gold Mine's production
capacity.
At the time of the Company's annual results in February 2012, it
was announced that further metallurgical test work was required in
order to determine the optimal processing methods, configuration
and location of a new processing facility, and that further updates
on an expansion would be made in the second quarter.
The need for further test work followed the doubling of Inata's
Mineral Reserves in January 2012 that, as a result of the deeper
exploration drilling, added a significant volume of fresh ore at
depth to the enlarged ore body. The study therefore aims to
configure a processing facility capable of maximising gold
production from ore of different types and metallurgy.
Preliminary findings from the current study indicate that the
construction of a new process plant, operating in parallel with the
existing plant, will provide more processing flexibility than
extending the existing plant. These findings also indicate that a
new processing plant is likely to be more appropriate than a heap
leach. During the early stages of the scoping study, an initial
evaluation of historic exploration drill samples was undertaken to
determine the portion of the total ore body constituted by
weathered oxide material suitable for heap leaching. As the recent
expansion of the ore body at Inata was primarily at depth, this
evaluation identified that oxide material constituted a relatively
small portion of the total ore body, making heap leach less
favorable than a new processing plant capable of treating
transitional and fresh rock as well as oxide material.
Since November 2011, Avocet's geological department has been
conducting an extensive programme of re-analysis of selected
samples for a number of indicator elements including carbon,
sulphur and leachable gold. This will enable the creation of
various metallurgical models that will be factored into the life of
mine plan to facilitate optimal mining of ores and maximised
recoveries in both the old and new plants.
In view of the above, a detailed metallurgical test work
programme for the transitional and fresh rock is being undertaken
with ALS - Ammtec. The test work includes an evaluation of several
treatment processes that would be appropriate for processing
different ore types at a new plant, including bulk gravity
recovery, de-sliming, carbon flotation, pre-oxidation and kerosene
blanking.
Lycopodium Minerals, an engineering company with significant
expertise in process plant construction, was engaged in January to
oversee the metallurgical test programme and make proposals on the
new plant's configuration, location and cost. The results from
Lycopodium's work are expected in June 2012.
A further announcement including initial capital estimates and
timelines will be made early in the third quarter. Subject to a
satisfactory outcome to the above study, Avocet management
anticipates entering construction in late 2012 and commissioning
and first gold in late 2013.
For further information please contact:
Avocet Mining Buchanan J.P. Morgan Arctic SEB Enskilda
PLC Financial Cazenove Securities Financial
PR Consultants Lead Broker Financial Adviser &
Adviser Market Maker
& Market
Maker
================ ================ ========================== ============ =================
Brett Richards, Bobby Morse Michael Wentworth-Stanley Arne Wenger Fredrik Cappelen
CEO James Strong Neil Passmore Petter
Mike Norris, Bakken
FD
Angela Parr,
IR
================ ================ ========================== ============ =================
+44 20 7766 +44 20 7466 +44 20 7588 +47 2101
7676 5000 2828 3100 +47 2100 8500
Notes to Editors
Avocet Mining PLC is a leading West African gold mining and
exploration company listed on the London Stock Exchange (AVM.L) and
the Oslo Bors (AVM.OL).
In Burkina Faso the Company owns 90% of the Inata Gold Mine. The
deposit at Inata currently comprises a Mineral Resource of 3.46
million ounces and a Mineral Reserve of 1.85 million ounces. The
Inata Gold Mine poured its first gold in December 2009 and produced
167,000 ounces of gold in 2011.
Other assets in Burkina Faso include eight exploration permits
in surrounding the Inata Gold Mine in the broader Belahouro region.
The most advanced of these projects is at Souma, some 20 kilometres
from the Inata Gold Mine, where a Mineral Resource of 0.56 million
ounces exists.
In Guinea, Avocet owns twelve exploration licenses in the north
east of the country. Mineral Resource development has been ongoing
since 2005 and the project at Tri-K is the most advanced. Within
the Tri-K project, Koulekoun has a Mineral Resource of 1.83 million
ounces and Kodieran of 0.41 million ounces.
Avocet's Mineral Resources, which are inclusive of Mineral
Reserves, are estimated in accordance with the principles of the
Canadian NI 43-101 and Australian JORC Codes; and are reported in
accordance with the Australian JORC Code.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
END
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