Vertex Minerals (ASX:VTX) and Gekko Systems have joined forces to breathe new life into the historical Hill End gold field in New South Wales.
The collaboration has revived a second-hand Gekko modular processing plant and also implemented technology that Gekko says sets a benchmark for sustainable, high-efficiency gold recovery in Australia’s mining sector.
At the heart of the Hill End Reward plant is a ‘cutting-edge’ pre-concentration circuit, combining sensor-based ore sorting with Gekko’s InLine Pressure Jig (IPJ) to boost ore grades and reject waste.
Gekko Systems has refurbished, installed, and commissioned the plant.
“With gold prices sitting at multi-year highs, there’s a growing opportunity for projects to move forward more quickly and start generating cash flow sooner,” Gekko says.
“In today’s market, reducing the time it takes to get into production can offer a real advantage for both investors and operators.
“While traditional gold processing plants are proven and reliable, they often come with high capital costs and lengthy construction periods, factors that can slow down returns and add to project risk.”
Gekko Systems addresses this challenge with its modular plant solutions, engineered to fast-track gold production while optimising capital efficiency.
The company says these pre-engineered, pre-assembled systems offer a cost-effective and scalable alternative to conventional processing infrastructure, enabling quicker deployment, and earlier revenue realisation.
Gekko adds that key investment advantages include faster return on investment through rapid installation and commissioning; lower capex with compact, off-site fabrication; flexible deployment for remote, small-scale, or interim operations; and customised metallurgy based on ore characteristics, among others.
Gekko’s modular systems have been deployed across a range of ore types including free-milling gold, complex sulphide ores, alluvial deposits, and hard rock formations. Ores amenable to gravity separation are particularly well-suited to this approach.
Vertex earlier this week received $3.9 million as part of a previously reported $11 million capital raise to fund underground development work and begin mining at the Hill End Gold Project.
The capital raise, managed by Blue Ocean Equities and CPS Capital Group, also included the earlier issuance of $3.5 million in convertible loans. This brings the total proceeds received to date to $7.4 million.
Vertex’s cornerstone investor and largest shareholder with 17% of the shares on issue, Glenden Nominees, has previously committed to subscribe for $3.6 million of shares.
The funds are expected to be received on or before 15 September 2025.
Vertex will be attending the Diggers & Dealers Mining Forum 2025 in Kalgoorlie, where we’ll be showcasing our cutting-edge technologies and discussing innovative strategies for sustainable mineral processing.
Mining.com.au will also be attending Diggers & Dealers this year.
Write to Adam Orlando at Mining.com.au
Images: Gekko
