Pacgold (ASX:PGO) has begun producing gold at its White Dam Project in South Australia’s Olary Province, with around 60 ounces of gold from the first 14 days of absorption stripped and ready for smelting.
The company will ramp up re-crushing and leaching activities at White Dam to reach its target of 90,000 tonnes per month, with three more additional strips planned for smelting, shipment, and sale by the end of April 2026.
Asides from a new carbon-in-column (CIC) tank, which will replace tank one, the majority of the plant refurbishment has been completed, with ore leaching to continue unabated.
Pacgold says increased carbon addition to CIC tanks will facilitate extraction and recovery of circulating gold load over coming weeks.
Engineering company Newfields is carrying out design work at the proposed pad expansion area. Work is expected to be completed by late July.
Managing Director Matthew Boyes says the team is “extremely proud” to start producing at White Dam, transitioning the company from explorer to producer.
“This initial production represents only a small portion of the gold we have leached to date, with the plant now running for a limited time post the completion of major refurbishment of the CIC columns and the gold room,” Boyes says.
“We are now focused on maximising recovery of the gold already leached in the system and currently recirculating, as we continue to absorb and redistribute the significant water influx from recent heavy rains.
“The first re-crushed material is now also under irrigation, which is another major milestone for the team and we expect to see a return from these new cells to commence in four to five weeks as fluid permeates the newly loaded ore.
“We are ramping up on a consistent basis and will soon achieve our forecast crushing throughput of 80,000-90,000 tonnes per month.”
Meanwhile, Pacgold has completed drilling at the Vertigo deposit, with remaining assays expected in the next two to three weeks for a resource upgrade.
Data will collard for an updated resource and mine design as a part of the company’s ascension into full production in 2027.
Pacgold is a gold-focused explorer focused on advancing its portfolio of assets in North Queensland and South Australia.
Write to Maddison Elliott at Mining.com.au
Images: Pacgold
