Classic Minerals mines more than 1,000oz gold from bulk sampling at Kat Gap
At Kat Gap, Classic Minerals has mined 6,504t of ore at 4.82g/t gold to produce 1,011oz gold.
WA-focused gold exploration and development company Classic Minerals (ASX: CLZ) has mined more than 1,000 ounces of gold from a bulk sample operation at its flagship Kat Gap project south of Southern Cross.
The sample produced 6,504 tonnes of gold-bearing ore at an average grade of 4.82 grams per tonne for a total 1,011oz of contained gold.
It was forecast to produce between 5,000t and 7,000t of ore at a grade of around 5g/t.
Total production of waste and ore was approximately 48,970t and the material has been stockpiled separately, while the topsoil has been stored for future rehabilitation.
The bulk of overburden removed at Kat Gap to date has been placed on the designated waste dump as required.
Shallow ore zone
Classic confirmed the shallow ore zone came within 6m of the surface and was mined down to a vertical depth of 15m, with the average width being around 5m over a strike length of 50m.
The oxide ore consisted mainly of quartz veining and biotite alteration hosted entirely in the granite.
The ore was easily distinguished from the waste material during mining mainly due to the alteration.
The footwall and hanging wall contacts were very clear making it easy to extract with minimal dilution and the ore was found to be moderately thicker on the pit floor than predicted by the resource block model.
Final metallurgical testwork on oxide samples from the bulk sample are underway together with geological and engineering studies based on observations from the pit, which are expected to assist in final pit design work.
Exploration efforts
The Kat Gap project has been the focus of the majority of Classic’s recent exploration efforts.
With strong grades and near-surface mineralisation, as well as evidence of new zones outside the original drilling perimeters, the company has the option to fast track the project to early production.
Classic aims to commence production as soon as mining approvals and a clearing permit have been granted.
The company envisages a three-stage mining plan with mineralisation beginning a few metres below surface and the initial bulk sampling capable of generating a revenue stream.