Blackham Resources has secured various approvals for the Matilda gold project in Australia and now moved closer to production.
The company received approvals from the Australian Department of Mining and Petroleum for the Matilda mine and Wiluna mining proposals, including tailings dam designs, and vegetation clearing permits over the entire mine plan.
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Blackham said that the remaining mining proposal is in the advanced stages for the Williamson Mine, scheduled for mining in year-three.
Australia’s Department of Water granted the water extraction licence for Galaxy, while Wiluna underground dewatering approvals remain in place.
Blackham lodged the amendment to the existing Wiluna environmental license on 26 February, and is working with the Department of Environment and Regulation to ensure its approval in time.
At present, the company is on track to mobilise the Matilda open-pit mining contractor, as well as the Golden Age underground mining contractor in June.
Gold production from the Matilda gold project is expected during the September 2016 quarter.
In a separate announcement, Blackham has signed an agreement to purchase Intermin Resources’ calcine tailings stockpile located next to the Wiluna plant.
The stockpile consists of a JORC 2004 indicated mineral resource estimate of 370,000t at 5.0g/t Au for 59,500oz Au, and is located on mining lease M53/200. It is next to the Wiluna gold plant.
Upon paying $1.5m consideration to Intermin, Blackham will have 100% of the calcine tailings.
