The first full year of production from the Don Mario gold mine in Bolivia has ended well for Orvana Minerals (ORV-T), with 48,000 oz. poured.
Orvana’s fourth quarter, which ended Sept. 30, saw just over 56,000 tonnes of ore milled at Don Mario, about two-thirds from nderground and a third from the mine’s “mini-pit” on surface. The head grade of the ore was 8.7 grams gold per tonne, up from 8.5 grams in the quarter ended in June and up from 5.7 grams per tonne in Orvana’s first quarter (October through December, 2003), as more mining shifted to underground reserves.
Mill recoveries, which had averaged round 89% in July and August, fell to 72% in September, as relatively copper-rich ore from the mini-pit was being treated. The copper slowed the gold leaching process and depressed recoveries.
Underground development on the deposit’s lower mineralized zone is progressing, and infill drilling on the upper mineralized zone, intended to tighten resource classifications in that area, is now complete.
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