Pantoro’s growth program at its Norseman gold project in Western Australia is well underway, with drilling commencing in the Butterfly area of the site.
An initial 35,000m surface drilling program has been awarded, with RC and diamond drilling planned for the near future.
The drilling follows Pantoro’s release of its 85,000m growth program in June, where the company detailed drilling targets within the main field of Norseman. Pantoro identified the Butterfly area as the priority for surface drilling.
The company is also planning for re-entry into the Bullen decline, with ground support work planned to begin in December.
“Pantoro’s growth efforts are centred on defining and initiating at least two additional underground mines within the next two years, alongside the expansion of operations at Scotia, subject to drilling results,” Pantoro said.
“The development of additional high-grade underground mines aims to replace lower-grade open pit material currently being processed, thereby increasing production from the current targets of approximately 100,000 ounces per annum to an aspirational target of 200,000 ounces per annum.”
Norseman’s processing plant continues to operation at 1.2 million tonnes per annum. Pantoro is not expecting upgrades to the plant to become necessary to accomodate higher feed grades once the additional underground mines are open.
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