Vast Resources expects Pickstone-Peerless output to double as processing plant progresses

JOHANNESBURG (miningweekly.com) – Aim-listed Vast Resources on Wednesday said it is targeting first sulphide production at its Pickstone-Peerless gold project, in Zimbabwe, for the third quarter of this year, following significant progress being made with the construction of a sulphide processing plant.

This will enable production from the high-grade sulphide pits in addition to the oxide pits that are currently being mined.

The plant’s second primary mill is now on site and installed on plinth and a majority of the sulphide concentrating equipment is now on site and being installed.

Foundations and bases for an additional five carbon-in-pulp and carbon-in-leach tanks are also being installed.

The company noted that it would see a 100% increase in installed primary milling capacity once the sulphide plant was commissioned to 40 000 t/m, up from the current 20 000 t/m.

The mine’s mill grade is further expected to increase from 2 g/t gold to between 3 g/t to 4 g/t, over a six-to-nine-month period, as higher-grade sulphide ore is mined and processed, resulting in a significant increase in production.

Vast CEO Roy Pitchford noted that the mine continued to deliver “impressive” results. “By using cash flow generated from production from the oxide cap zone of the mine, we are funding the expansion of the mine with the aim of doubling throughput.

“Obviously, this would provide enormous upside and further enhance the performance of Pickstone-Peerless, which produced an average of over 4 150 oz per quarter over the past 12 months from the oxide cap alone,” said Pitchford.