Eldorado Gold Corporation announced that has completed its first shipment of iron ore produced from its Vila Nova Mine, located in Amapa State, Brazil. This shipment consisted of 45,000 tonnes of lump ore grading 63% iron that was sold into the Chinese spot market.
Eldorado Gold reported that due to weak global demand for iron ore, and the related decline in iron ore prices, we have decided to put Vila Nova on care and maintenance status after we complete plant commissioning in Q2 2009. During the first quarter of 2009, construction was completed and commissioning the processing plant was started. Ore and waste mining began on the upper benches and stockpiled ore for plant commissioning.
Reported a majority of construction was completed, including the crushing and screening plant, the run of mine and finsihed product stockpiles, and the tailings impoundment area. A total
of 2,708 meters was drilled during the year for metallurgical characterization and mine planning.
