Cathedral Gold ups reserves at Sterling

Reserves have increased modestly at the Sterling gold mine in southern Nevada.

The mine is 52%-owned by Cathedral Gold (TSE), which estimates geological reserves to be 536,000 tons grading 0.183 oz. gold per ton. In the previous year, they were estimated at 527,000 tons grading 0.179 oz.

The increase is particularly notable because the 13-year-old mine just experienced its best year for ore production.

A total of 80,925 tons grading 0.252 oz. was mined. This represents 17,875 oz. shipped to the leach pad at a recovery rate of 87.5%.

A total of 14,034 oz. was recovered in 1993, although the increased production of that year is expected to boost the total ounces recovered in the first half of 1994.

This year, Cathedral is planning 2,000 ft. of underground mine development outside the current reserve. The Sterling deposit is open downdip to the south, east and west and the company hopes to establish larger reserves to increase production further.