GOLD MINING: QR mine pours first dor bar

BRITISH COLUMBIA - Barkerville Gold Mines of Vancouver says its QR gold mine near Quesnel poured its first doré bar on Sept. 8, 2010, and full production has been achieved. The mine output is to be 50,000 oz in its first year of operation.

The QR mill is running at 600 t/d and will ramp up to capacity over the next several months. The mill treats ore from the newly developed 915 stope. Orica's i-Kon digital blasting system was used to ensure successful initial production blasts opening the stope, resulting in minimal dilution.

Barkerville is engaged in pre-production development towards the west side of the West zone. This ore is the down dip extension of the North Lobe pit. It is expected that this development to be in North Lobe ore within a week. An underground diamond drill will arrive shortly to complete the definition drilling of this ore zone to finalize planning of the North Lobe production stopes.

Surface diamond drilling will continue at the North zone, located approximately 265 to 300 metres below the mill. The North zone is drill indicated to be the largest mineralized zone at QR and is the next zone slated for development and mining.

To view pictures of the QR mine's first gold pour, please visit http://www.barkervillegold.com/s/QR_Mine_Mill.asp?ReportID=397772.