Condor Gold plc said it had started initial site preparations at the location of the processing plant facility at La India gold mine, Nicaragua.
Work includes creating the main plant access road from a regional paved highway to the processing plant, in-plant roads and a bypass road.
All key areas for the plant layout – from the stockpile area to the crushing and grinding machinery to the leach tanks, a laydown area and warehouse – will be cleared over 11.26 hectares in a period of three to four months. For every one tree removed ten will be planted using Condor Gold’s nursery which has some 7,000 trees.
Chairman Mark Child said the start of site preparation at Mina La India was a significant stage as Condor Gold transforms from a gold exploration and development company to a gold producer.
Two viewing platforms over the plant area have already been constructed, and 25 geotechnical test pits have been completed to help with the design of the plant layout.
A second more comprehensive stage of site preparation will follow to include geotechnical drilling on the location of the SAG or Ball Mill and key infrastructure.
This will involve deep foundation excavation for the location of the processing plant, offices, accommodation, warehouses, tailings storage facility, water retention dam, explosive magazine, internal roads and preparation of a berm.
It will also include surface water diversion channels, drainage piping and placement of structural concrete.