Vertex Minerals (ASX:VTX) is moving closer towards beginning underground mining at the Reward Gold Mine on New South Wales’ Central Coast.
Ahead of the commencement of mining, Vertex is ordering a development jumbo and procuring longer lead time of the gravity processing plant at the Hill End Project, as well as equipment.
This news comes after Vertex completed the commissioning of the ore sorter at Hill End’s gravity gold plant.
Vertex, which has a market capitalisation of $59.25 million, says Reward Gold Mine’s ore sorts “perfectly,” achieving 79% mass reduction and a 337% increase in gold grade in the 8mm to 50mm range.
Executive Chairman Roger Jackson says the ore sorter exceeds the company’s expectations and has been integrated into the gravity plant circuit.
“It’s pleasing to see this plant up and running with only the minor tweaks to be undertaken by the Gekko commissioning team to move the plant to nameplate operation,” Jackson says.
Commissioning of the Hill End plant is ongoing, with further components being introduced to improve the plant’s performance.
Further, the company has the option to sell gold in concentrate or doré bars, by nature of the gravity process at the plant.
The Hill End Project, located within the Reward Gold Mine, comprises a fully permitted processing plant and a mineral resource of 485,000 ounces of gold. The project lies in the central west of New South Wales, between the major regional centres of Bathurst and Mudgee.
Vertex Minerals is an Australian-based gold explorer focused on developing multi-million-ounce gold deposits within New South Wales and Western Australia.
Write to Aaliyah Rogan at Mining.com.au
Images: Vertex Minerals
