Mining has never been this lucrative, as proven in a report by K92 Mining which said that in the third quarter of the year, has harvested at least 22,261 oz AuEq (gold equivalent) at its Kainantu Gold Mine in Papua New Guinea.
To be more specific in Q3, K92 has come out with 21,298 ounces of gold, 488,020 pounds of copper and 7,127 ounces of silver, or 22,261 AuEq oz. Following the triumphant commissioning of the Stage 2 process plant expansions to work from 200,000 tpa to 400,000 tpa - which also includes five consecutive days above design - the quarter also achieved a record mill throughput of 64,702 tonnes.
Interestingly, mining operations in Q3 zeroed in on the K1 and K2 veins of Kora and are composed of development tonnes on the K1 vein on all five levels, K1 vein long hole stopping on the 1225 and 1205 MRL level, K2 vein development tonnes from the 1170 MRL and K2 vein long hole stoping on the 1185 MRL level.
It is important to note that Q3 meant the second full quarter of long hole stoping which began last March on the K1 vein. Presently, long hole stoping has brought a positive impact on operational flexibility - which also includes multiple consecutive days that go beyond 1,100 tpd of plant feed from the underground in Q3. Long stoping is planned throughout the rest of 2020 and K2 is still in line to obtain 1,100 tpd of plant feed by the end of the year.
The mixture of the materials of K1 and K2 give an average head grade to the process plant for Q3 of 11.29 g/t gold and 0.38% copper. During the commissioning period to limit the potential for losses of gold, plant feed grades were lowered. Because gold head grades continue to bring positive feedback, the grades are expected to rise in Q4 in high-grade mining areas.
In Q3, the development of underground infrastructure came across mineralization in the Judd 1 and 2 - which resulted in modifying along the J1 vein, giving a bulk sample to treat during Q4. In addition, Judd has started a drilling program - two drill rigs that target Judd from underground which continues to advance to the South. It is essential to note that a portion of the Judd has been processed already. Among the finished works include completing two portals and portal ground support and surface ground support.
