Porgera posts record output
Post Courier (PNG), Copyright 2000
November 20, 2000
PERTH: Gold production at the massive Porgera mine has achieved its best quarter in four years, the Porgera joint venture said on Friday.
Production for the three months ending September 30 was 249,057 ounces, taking production for the nine months to the end of September to 666,520 ounces.
This compares with 542,123 in the corresponding nine month period last year.
The joint venture, comprising Placer Dome Inc 50 per cent, Goldfields Ltd 25 per cent and Orogen Minerals Ltd 25 per cent, said the increase in output reflected the continued development of the high grade ore zone as mining advanced through the former underground workings.
Also pushing production higher was record mill throughput which averaged 17,952 tonnes a day.
Mill head grade averaged 5.4 grams a tonne for the quarter and 5.6 grams a tonne for the nine months compared with 5.0 grams per tonne in the nine months ending September 30 last year.
Total gold recovery was 80 per cent, an increase over the course of the year following modifications to the flotation and gravity circuits.
The joint venture said exploration success remained a priority and drilling was continuing from the old underground workings into four primary targets.
It said drilling had shown encouraging results which could add reserves in and around the ultimate pit shell.
Meanwhile, fellow PNG miner Lihir Gold Ltd, reported two earth tremors on Lihir Island.
The first tremor at 2.50pm on Thursday caused a 65-minute interruption to production due to vibration protection in the oxygen compressors.
The second struck at 5.40pm, again causing the plant to shut down for 95 minutes.
Lihir, which operates the 600,000 ounce a year gold mine on the island, said the tremors did not cause any damage.
Orogen shares closed 3.2 cents weaker at $1.47 while Lihir was one cent higher at 56 cents.