Andacollo tops 25,000 oz.

The Andacollo gold mine in central Chile produced a record 25,076 oz. at a cash operating cost of US$226 per oz. for the quarter ended Sept. 30, reports Dayton Mining (DAY-T).

“The management of Dayton and Andacollo have worked hard to resolve operational issues encountered earlier in the year and are pleased to see these efforts paying off,” says Dayton President William Myckatyn. “Our objective is to develop the potential of Andacollo with increased production and lower operating cash costs.”

Andacollo is on target to produce roughly 91,000 oz. in 1998 at a cash operating cost of US$235 per oz. Dayton is forecasting production of 145,000 oz. for 1999 at an average cash cost of US$210 per oz.

Andacollo is an open-pit, heap-leach mine near the coastal city of La Serena. At the year-end of 1997, minable reserves were estimated at 45.4 million tonnes grading 0.87 gram gold per tonne, equivalent to 1.3 million oz., at a stripping ratio of 1.87-to-1. The total resource stands at 132.9 million tonnes grading 0.67 gram.