Blackwater gold drilling results consistent with past production
OceanaGold wants to produce 50,000 to 60,000 ounces of gold a year from the location 15km from its Globe Progress mine.
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BUSINESSDESK: OceanaGold is investigating gold mining scenarios at Blackwater, 37km south of Reefton, after more drilling of the area increased the known extent of mineralisation.
It wants to produce 50,000 to 60,000 ounces of gold a year from the location 15km from its Globe Progress mine near the abandoned mining township of Waiuta. A study of mining options is expected to be completed by the second half of 2013.
About a third of the two million ounces of gold produced previously from the Reefton Goldfield was mined at Blackwater.
OceanaGold says a second round of drilling results from the Birthday Reef at Blackwater has encountered results consistent with historic records. Two holes indicated the reef extended to 1390m below the surface.
One showed 15.65 grams per tonne of ore and the other showed 85.2 grams. The next hole will test the northern extent of the reef.
"We are very pleased with the continued success of the drilling programme at Blackwater. To date, we have uncovered remarkable continuity in the Birthday Reef which gives us strong confidence of the continuation of the orebody below the previously mined workings," managing director Mick Wilkes says.
The shares fell 8.7% to $4.11 in trading today and have climbed 64% this year.
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Blackwater gold drilling results consistent with past production
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