McWatters Mining‘s (MWA-T) gold mill at the Sigma open pit operations, in Val d’Or, Quebec, has resumed commercial production.
McWatters reports that during late January the mill was running through more than 3,600 tonnes of ore per day. McWatters restarted milling activities at Sigma in late November, after completing construction work that led to an increase in milling capacity to 5,000 from 3,000 tonnes per day.
Between Nov. 27 and Jan. 31, the mill processed 162,853 tonnes of ore, including 133,341 tonnes grading 2.18 grams gold per tonne and 29,512 tonnes of 0.31 grams gold to produce 9,191 oz. of gold. The mill grade of 2.18 grams gold is slightly higher than the 2.13 grams predicted, and recovery is a shade under expectations (96%) at 95%. Mill availability exceeds 90%.
The company expects the throughput rate to climb to 4,000 tonnes per day by the end of the first quarter. The ultimate goal is to achieve a rate of 5,000 tonnes per day by the end of 2003.
Sigma has been pouring gold on a weekly basis since announcing the first pour on Christmas Eve 2002.
On the mining side, open-pit operations are running at the expected 42,000 tonnes of ore and waste per day. On the flip side, drilling has been slowed, and operating cost increased, thanks to the late delivery of drill rigs. McWatters says the situation is improving.
The plan at Sigma calls for the production of 856,000 oz. of gold at US$165 per oz. from 2003 to 2008. Mining will target 10.4 million tonnes of reserves running 2.67 grams gold.
Last year, a bail-out by the provincial government left McWatters with a 60% stake in Sigma-Lamaque. Quebec government-owned Soquem grabbed the remaining 40% for $15.8 million.
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