Final approvals secured to commence mining at Dalgaranga gold project

Spartan Resources in now ready to commence underground mining and processing operations at its Dalgaranga gold project in Western Australia after securing all necessary regulatory approvals. 

The approvals granted by the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulations and Safety (DEMIRS) as well as the Department of Water and Environment Regulation (DWER) will enable Spartan Resources to transition from development to full-scale mining and production of underground ores. This follows the completion of the Juniper Exploration Drill Drive decline development. 

The approvals also green lights modifications to the processing plant. This will include the installation and operation of a Ball Mill and Pre-Leach Thickener at the existing processing plant alongside a Paste Plant that will utilise recovered tailings as feedstock to provide back-fill support to underground mining operations, which will help maximise the quantity of ore available for mining on each underground level. 

The approvals will also enable re-mining of tailings from the disused Gilbey’s Tailings Storage Facility as feedstock for the Paste Plant. 

Approvals have also been granted to dewater the now disused low-grade Gilbey’s Open Pit. 

Meanwhile, pre-existing approvals cover the existing Golden Wings in-pit tailings storage facility which has a remaining storage capacity potential of 23 million cubic metres. 

“On behalf of the Spartan team, I would like to thank the regulatory agencies for the efficient and pragmatic way in which they oversaw our pre-submission consultation period, clearing the way for a seamless and expedient approval process. 

“The robust technical work undertaken by our in-house approvals and development team alongside our valued technical consultants has demonstrated low environmental risk associated with the Dalgaranga Operation. All key parameters associated with the project are thoroughly understood and well managed, as we progress Dalgaranga to an operational re-start baseon the still growing high-grade underground Never Never and Pepper gold deposits. 

“With these final approvals now in hand, we are excited to move ahead with the nex phase of development of the Dalgaranga Project and advance systematically towards a prouction re-commencement, in the process creating new jobs and boosting local communities in the Murchison Region of Western Australia,” Spartan Resources’ Interim Executive Chair Simon Lawson said. 

The Dalgaranga gold project is located about 475 kilometres north-east of Perth and 65 kilometres north-west of Mount Magnet. 

Source: Spartan Resources (1, 2); Australian Mining; Yahoo! Finance; Mining Technology