Reported drill results across a range of prospects to add new reserves and resources and
generate additional mining options to the producing operation at Surprise and the planned developments at Bluebird and Prohibition-Vivian-Consols. Best results of the 2008 RC drill programme at Euro prospect are:
- 08EURC009 - 12m at 2.9g/t Au from 97m
- 08EURC012 - 18m at 3.2g/t Au from 99m
- 08EURC024 - 16m at 2.5g/t Au from 58m
Mercator has drilled a total of 8 holes to date at Batavia with best intersections of:
- 08BVRC005 - 8m at 1.6g/t Au from 85m
-08BVRC006 - 8m at 20.2 g/t Au from 86m, including 2m at 72.4g/t Au
Best results from drilling by Mercator at Fenian West to date are:
- 07FWRC026 - 7m at 4.0g/t from 58m
- 07FWRC027A - 7m at 3.0 g/t Au from 72m
- 07FWRC038 - 7m at 3.3 g/t Au from 3m
The Company produced 10,852 ounces during the quarter ended Mar 31/08, an increase of 37.5% on the previous quarter's gold production which was 7,889 ounces. A total of 315,619 tonnes of ore was processed, with a better than expected recovery rate of 95% gold recovered versus a target of 93%. The average head grade processed was 1.11g/t, 5% above the target of 1.06g/t.
December 31, 2007
The following updates are provided:
- re-established and refurbished all infrastructure necessary for the commencement of gold operations at Meekatharra;
- commenced mining of the Surprise ore-body in September 2007;
- commenced gold production in October from low grade ores left in ramps and access ways within the older Surprise pit;
- mined approximately 350,000 tonnes of ore from the low grade material at Surprise at an average grade of 0.75g/tonne almost exactly in line with a modelled grade of 0.76g/tonne;
- mined approximately 3.5 million tonnes of waste from the Surprise pit (representing 52% of the total waste to be mined from Surprise);
- milled approximately 475,500 tonnes of low grade ores from Surprise and other stockpiled material, an increase of 8% from the forecast;
- produced 9,479 ounces of gold - an increase of 12% from the forecast of 8,456 ounces;
October 1, 2007
Announced that first commercial gold production has commenced at Meekatharra. Over 300 ounces (10kg) has been poured and production is on-going: more gold is expected to be poured shortly to finalise September production with the Company poised to increase production in October.
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