Pacgold (ASX:PGO) has received approval to begin utilising its relined pregnant leach solution pond and begin irrigating the heap leach dump at the White Dam Gold Operation in South Australia.
Irrigation and dripper lines are currently being installed at the operation on run of mine material that has been turned over on the northern side of the pad this week.
Pacgold intends for full irrigation to begin in the last week of December 2025.
The company has mobilised a large excavator, beginning the turnover of around 500,000 tonnes of original run of mine ore on the first lift of the heap leach dump. The turnover of this material will aerate, break up, and expose ore which may have not been fully leached previously.
Managing Director Matthew Boyes describes the approval as a “key milestone” in bringing White Dam to full production.
“Approximately 500,000 tonnes of ore on the northern edge of the pad will be turned over and aerated as a trial to give Pacgold an indication of the potential quantities of extractable gold that remain in the pad overall,” Boyes says.
“We are delivering on all fronts at White Dam and I am extremely happy with the progress to date, we have an excellent team on site who are very motivated to see production commence again and bring life back to the mine once again.
“2026 is shaping up to be an outstanding year for Pacgold on many fronts from mine production through to exploration in northern Queensland and South Australia.”
As reported by Mining.com.au, Pacgold completed the acquisition of the White Dam operation from GBM Resources (ASX:GBZ) at the start of the month, accelerating the company’s transition to a producer.
Write to Maddison Elliott at Mining.com.au
Images: Pacgold
