Auric Mining has initiated the development of the Munda gold mine, located 5km from Widgiemooltha in Western Australia (WA), with the mobilisation of plant and equipment for the mine’s starter pit.
Mining at the starter pit is set to commence this week, with completion expected to take around six months.
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The WA Government’s Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety has approved the Munda starter pit mining proposal and mine closure plan.
Site preparation activities are currently under way, including the survey mark-out of the pit crest, haul roads, waste dump, run-of-mine pads and site office.
Auric has also secured a contract with MHM Contracting for the dry hire of the mining fleet, which will be operated by Auric’s own personnel.
The starter pit represents the initial phase of Auric’s strategy to exploit the larger Munda Resources.
Following the completion of the starter pit and a thorough analysis of the results, Auric plans to undertake pit optimisation and mine planning for an expanded pit at Munda.
Based on the outcomes from the starter pit and subsequent planning, the company intends to mine a larger pit by mid to late 2026.
Auric Mining managing director Mark English said: “We are right on schedule and have mobilised all the necessary machinery and infrastructure. Earth works have commenced; we will begin mining in a few days.
“The project is another significant step, both in our ambition to become a substantial gold producer in the district, and to develop Munda to its full potential.”
A comprehensive grade control programme has been completed over the starter pit area by Kalgoorlie-based Total Drilling Services.
The programme involved 428 holes drilled for a total of 14,670m. The results have enabled mine geologists to delineate near-surface ore blocks ahead of the mining operations.
As mining progresses and exposes new benches, further grade control drilling will be conducted on a 5m x 5m pattern.
Auric Mining plans to extract 125,000 tonnes (t) of ore at a projected grade of 1.8 grams per tonne of gold and an all-in sustaining cost of A$2,635 ($1,656) per ounce.
In February 2025, Auric Mining generated more than $105m in gold sales from stage one and two operations at the Jeffreys Find Gold Mine near Norseman, WA.
