This week saw the first mining activity in more than 50 years at Morning Star Gold’s namesake mine at Woods Point in Victoria.
“This is the first mining at Morning Star since 1963,” Morning Star managing director Nick Garling said.
Speaking at the Paydirt 2009 Resources Victoria Conference, Garling said waste removal at the mine has been completed and the first ore had been mined at the beginning of this week.
Garling said the company will now move forward with plans to develop the mine further.
“Our intention is to now push ahead and develop several commercial stopes within the mine, following extensive channel sampling and drive, shaft and plant redevelopment at the mine,” he said.
“We expect Morning Star to be a highly successful gold mining operation as it includes multiple intercepts of very high grade mineralisation in several areas currently in focus.”
According to Garling, operations at the mine are going well and the company expects ore delivery within the coming financial year.
“The mine is at an advanced stage in considerations of its own onsite gravity gold plant with an initial capacity up to 60,000 tonnes per annum,” he said.
“Morning Star is well positioned for ore delivery and maiden gold bar pours in 2009-2010.”