Nevada Goldfields opens another U.S. gold mine

Milling started in mid-November at Nevada Goldfields’ Aurora gold mine, located in the Aurora mining district in Mineral Cty., Nev.

The Aurora open pit and underground mine (not to be confused with a neighboring heap leaching mine with the same name owned by Electra North West Resources and Minerex Resources) is expected to produce around 100,000 oz gold and 150,000 oz silver during its 5-year life. Coincidentally, both operations cost $5.1 million to bring on stream and will produce about 20,000 oz gold a year. Nevada Goldfields holds a 50-year lease on the 4,500-acre property, subject to a 7.5% net smelter royalty.

Mining started in August with development of the open cut and underground haulage adit to reach the Prospectus vein at depth. About 242 tons per day will be mined from the open cut and 55 tons from the underground adit by shrinkage stoping methods. Proven and probable reserves are 427,900 tons grading 0.21 oz gold per ton, with a possible 82,500 tons grading 0.219 oz.

A 297-ton-per-day carbon-in- leach milling facility has been completed to process the ore. The carbon recovered from the circuit after loading with gold will be transported to the company’s Kingston mill for stripping and recovery of the gold and silver.

The Kingston mine and mill, located 156 miles east of Reno, has produced about 25,000 oz gold since it opened in March.

A third gold project near Empire, Colo., was drilled this year. The company expects to complete feasibility studies by March and anticipates bringing the property into production in 1989.