Morning News Bites – July 15

Woodside has posted a record production, Afterpay launches in store in the US and artist Banksy has been a rat…. painting rats on the London Underground with a COVID-19 flavour.

A worker has died after being involved in an incident at Saracen Minerals Dervish mine at Carosue Dam. Saracen Managing Director Raleigh Finlayson expressed the Company’s deepest sympathy to the worker’s family, friends and colleagues. “This is an extremely tragic accident and all our thoughts are with his family at this very difficult time”, Mr Finlayson said. “The health and safety of our people is always our first priority. Saracen is currently working closely with the WA Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety on the continuing investigation, while working with our contract partners to ensure full support is provided to the family and all Saracen employees and contractors.” Processing operations have recommenced with underground  and open pit to commence imminently. Saracen has announced the Company’s other operations are continuing as normal. Saracen’s FY21 production guidance remains unchanged.

Lynas Corporation’s Kalgoorlie facility is on the way to construction with Metso Outotec awarded the contract for Kiln construction. The 110 metre long, 1500 tonne kiln is the largest and longest lead time piece of equipment required for the plant’s operation. Lynas Corporation Managing Director Amanda Lacaze said “The kiln is the longest lead time item for our Kalgoorlie project and placing this order is an important milestone in the development of our new processing plant in Kalgoorlie. We are making good progress on the project, and we look forward to working with Metso Outotec on the engineering and supply of the kiln.” Construction will begin immediately with components from Australia and Europe. The contract is valued at approximately USD 15 million (AUD 21.6 million), including the discharge housing, combustion chamber and burner, motor control stations and delivery to Kalgoorlie.

GR Engineering Services has been awarded a contract for engineering, procurement and construction for the restart at the Ora Banda Mining Davyhurst Mine. The contract price worth $10.8 million includes refurbishment, optimisation and recommissioning of the existing 1.2 Mtpa Davyhurst Gold Processing Plant, borefields and associated infrastructure. Work will start immediately and Managing Director of GR Engineering Geoff Jones, said the company is excited to be working on the project. “GR Engineering is pleased to have been awarded the EPC contract for the Davyhurst Restart Project. We are excited to be working with Ora Banda’s management team and look forward to Ora Banda becoming Australia’s newest gold producer.” he said.

Stavley Minerals has divested its interests Mathinna/Alberton and Lefroy Goldfields tenements. as well as its Fosterville East tenement in Victoria to Nubian Resources Ltd for A$2.5 million in Nubian shares and cash. Executive Chairman Chris Cairns gave some insight into the divestment “The Fosterville East tenement is located just 10km to the east of the Fosterville mine, while the geology of the Mathinna/Alberton and Lefroy goldfields is the same sequence of sediments as those in central Victoria extending under Bass Strait into north-eastern Tasmania,” he said. “We are fully focused on defining the extents of the exciting Cayley Lode high-grade copper-gold-silver discovery at the Stavely Project, while also unlocking the full potential of this highly prospective, multilayered exploration opportunity for our shareholders,” While Mr Cairns also discussed the upside Stavely will retain significant exposure to the future upside from any exploration success via a significant shareholding in Nubian at a time of significant investor interest in the Victorian gold exploration industry in the North American market.”

Focus Minerals has revealed recent shallow drilling campaigns, which will deliver a 213% increase in total Mineral Resource at Beasley Creek South. The best intersect being 17m at 9.28g/t Au from 168m. This recent campaign has adjusted the total Mineral Resource to  1.014MT at  3.55g/t for a total of 115,761oz. The target for Beasley Creek has now also been adjusted to 1.8Mt to 2.0Mt at 2.6 g/t to 3.6 g/t Au for 150Koz to 243Koz. Focus Minerals’ CEO, Mr Zhaoya Wang said “The combination of Beasley Creek South and Beasley Creek could potentially deliver Focus a low CAPEX and OPEX operation in Laverton, which could accelerate the progress of achieving the Stage 2 production plan in Laverton. With the Stage 1 Laverton pre-feasibility study underway, we are looking forward to seeing what Laverton bring to our stakeholders for the near term.”

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