Condor Gold said it has taken its wholly owned La India gold mine project in Nicaragua to the next stage by starting a ground investigation programme.
The exploration company will conduct 20 geotechnical drill holes and 58 test pits on the tailings storage facility (TSF), water retention reservoir and processing plant site.
The geotechnical drilling and test pits on La Simona dam and reservoir aim to develop the design criteria for a retention dam and diversion water facility.
The final TSF design will be fully compliant with internal and external legislation.
Condor Gold is accelerating the project from a pre-feasibility level of design to final engineering designs on key infrastructure ahead of constructing the fully-permitted gold mine. (bit.ly/37NY9ZR)
Work is also underway, via a dozen test pits, on initial characterisation of the geotechnical properties of the plant area to allow the next phase of design work to be detailed.
Condor’s chairman and chief executive Mark Child said the start of ground investigations showed the company’s commitment to advance La India to construction stage.
“Condor has previously completed a pre-feasibility level design on the TSF and water retention reservoir.
“The decision has been taken to accelerate the project, by-passing a feasibility level design, which is typically required for bank lending and go directly to a TSF final level of design, which will, subject to funding, allow the fast tracking of the project to future operational status.”
In August 2018, the Ministry of the Environment in Nicaragua granted the company the permit to develop, construct and operate a processing plant with the capacity to process up to 2,800 tonnes of gold per day at La India.