During Year 1 the mine production rate will be ramped up to 20,000 tpd of high-grade ore (> 0.40 g/t) for estimated gold production of 80,000 oz. The life of mine strip ratio (waste: ore) is estimated to be 0.81:1.

 

Mining will then progress for an additional 12 years at an average annualized rate of 20,000 tpd of high-grade ore and 7,000 tpd of low-grade ore and associated waste material. The high-grade ore will be sent to the leach pad whilst the low-grade ore is stockpiled for leaching in later years of mine life.

 

Mine design and estimation of the mining reserves was completed using conventional open-pit design methodology. The mine design is based on a $1,225 Lerchs-Grossmann pit optimization computer analysis.

​

The pit design incorporates 20m benches made up of 2 x 10m mining benches utilizing a fleet of 70 tonne and 90 tonne excavators and 43 tonne dump trucks. Mining operations will be performed exclusively by a mining contractor under a mining alliance style framework for the entire life of mine.