Galantas Gold Corporation announced it had restarted limited underground blasting at Omagh gold mine at Cavanacaw in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland.
The Canadian miner is developing the Kearney gold vein which is expected to produce a feed of higher gold grade for the processing plant than the current feed, which comes from low grade stock.
Galantas added that total concentrate production was expected to rise, driven by an expected higher feed grade.
Single shifts are being run as process plant operations are reduced from three shifts to two.
The limited re-start is being funded by current cash resources, using a single existing equipment suite, which is fully operational.
Galantas said that the restocking of specialist blasting materials might be subject to short-term delays due to the UK’s exit from the EU.
The company will conduct an operational review after two to four weeks.
“The restart of blasting, although limited by our cash availability, is good progress,” said president and chief executive Roland Phelps.
“If the upcoming review is positive, the re-start is expected to enhance gold concentrate production.
“Cash constraints do restrict how quickly operations can be expanded and the company is actively working with third parties on the arrangements required both to expand blasting underground and to expand exploration, for which significant potential exists.”