ONTARIO - Brigus Gold of Halifax says that gold production at its Black Fox mine and mill near Matheson is up 15% to 20% during Q3 2010 over Q2 2010. Estimated output for Q3 will be between 21,000 and 22,000 oz. Targets for ore and waste removal for Phase 1 of the open pit are expected to exceed target, and overburden removal for the Phase 2 layback is likewise ahead of schedule. The company says the positive results are due to high equipment availability and operator performance, better than expected material quality an favourable weather conditions.
The mill will operate at over 1,950 t/d for Q3, despite a 48-hour shutdown to replace a primary motor on the ball mill. Since then the mill has run at a rate of over 2,000 t/d. Brigus said recovery rates early in the quarter were lower than expected due to a supply of poor quality carbon that has since been replaced in the carbon circuit with fresh, better quality material. Opportunities to improve mill performance are being studied.
Initial underground production began on schedule in late August 2010. During Q4 2010, the company expects intermittent ore will be produced from development headings while production faces are prepared. The focus for the underground mine crews continues to be completion of infrastructure to support a mining rate of 800 t/d. The underground work includes developing a new, larger profile ramp to connect to the surface and replace the existing ramp. The new ramp will remove the haulage constraint experienced previously at the mine. The new ventilation and service raise is expected to be completed by January 2011.
The current underground workforce includes 75 contract miners from Cementation Inc. and other contractors, plus 20 Brigus employees. Brigus' workforce continues to grow, and will displace the majority of the contract workforce by mid-2011.
Total cash costs for Q3 are anticipated to be between $500 and $550 per ounce. Additional information is available at www.BrigusGold.com.
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