Scotgold Resources Ltd reached higher grade ore zones quicker than expected but a bearing failure last month thwarted an increase to full production at Cononish gold mine near Tyndrum, Scotland.
Gold doré sent to the refiners in May was refined through normal treatment processes, validating Scotgold’s process plant production.
“Mining in the latter part of June was accessing ore which peaked at 40 grammes per tonne,” said the company in a statement.
“Mining in this general zone will continue for two months and [is] expected to achieve a blended grade average above 10 grammes per tonne.”
DUAL AIMS
Scotgold’s dual focus is to “further enhance safe production through consistency and stability of mine and process plant operations in parallel with the opening of multiple faces of ore in the underground mine itself.”
Activity at Cononish continued uninterrupted throughout June as the Australian miner increased the volume of ore stored on the stockpile.
The extra ore stockpiled is expected to be processed by the plant in due course and the second gold concentrate shipment is planned for the first half of July.
ONE-OFF ISSUES
Scotgold said that the bearing failure in the process plant ball mill was expected to be resolved in the coming days.
The company added that the issue demonstrated the types of ‘one-off issues’ which could affect production and which are being targeted by a risk analysis approach at the site.
“This methodical approach, which involves analysing, predicting or mitigating the effects of ‘one-off issues’ on production would certainly have limited unplanned downtime arising from the bearing failure to an almost negligible level – in this case by ensuring the purchase of critical spare parts.
“The directors are confident that once fully implemented the risk analysis approach will greatly increase the reliability of the mine and process plant operations and enable more consistent runtime.”