VANCOUVER (miningweekly.com) – British Columbia gold miner Pretium Resources continues with the ramp-up of its flagship Brucejack mine, which produced 82 203 oz of gold in the three months ended September 30.
The Vancouver-headquartered company on Wednesday said the gold recovery rate had averaged 96.49% during the period, with the throughput totalling 261 262 t milled.
Listed on the TSX and NYSE, Pretium advised that, in July, at the onset of the quarter, mill feed was mainly from low-grade stockpiles and development muck, resulting in 16 882 oz of gold produced. As the ramp-up progressed, the mill started processing stope ore exclusively and a further 65 321 oz of gold was produced in the last two months of the quarter.
For the quarter, the mill feed grade averaged 10.52 g/t gold. Mill feed grade and gold recoveries averaged 12.36 g/t gold and 96.92% respectively during the last two months of the quarter as the mill transitioned to processing stope ore exclusively.
The mill averaged 2 840 t/d during the quarter.
Pretium announced its first gold pour at Brucejack on June 20, and declared commercial production at the $811.1-million mine on July 3.
The 2 700 t/d high-grade underground mine is located in north-western British Columbia, about 65 km north of Stewart.
Over the 18-year mine life, Brucejack is expected to produce on average 404 000 oz/y of gold.
The mine has an after-tax net present value, at a 5% discount rate, of $1.53-billion, with an internal rate of return of 28.5%.
Edited by: Creamer Media Reporter
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