09:00 AEST June 15, 2011 ABN Newswire (C) 2004-2011 Asia Business News PL. All Rights Reserved.
Perth, Australia (ABN Newswire) -
Focus Minerals (ASX: FML) is pleased to announce that it has commenced long-hole stoping operations at The Mount project, which will play a key role in enabling the Company to hit its production target of 100,000 ounces in calendar 2011.
The Mount commenced production from development ore in late March, and with the start of stoping operations Focus expects to significantly ramp up production through the September quarter.
'The commencement of stoping is an important milestone, not just in this new mine's development, but also for the company as we continue to transform our operations and production outlook,' Focus Minerals Chief Executive Campbell Baird said.
'We've come a significant way in just a few months by diversifying from one mine to three operations, which is seeing our production profile quite heavily weighted to the second-half of the year as these begin to build.'
Mr Baird said Focus has developed two levels at The Mount, where stoping operations have now commenced. The company has also completed a 200m exploration cross cut, enabling it to access around 10 gold-bearing structures within The Mount resource footprint.
'This week the first single boom jumbo commenced development on a number of structures and a second jumbo is expected to start at the end of the month,' said Mr Baird.
'An underground diamond rig is also due to arrive in June to enable us to begin testing down plunge and strike extensions of some of the outlying structures,' he said.
The Mount is situated at Widgiemooltha, approximately 85km south of Focus' Three Mile Hill processing plant in Coolgardie and its existing Tindals Mining centre which comprises an established underground operation and newly developed open pit operation.
About Focus Minerals Ltd:
Focus Minerals Ltd (ASX: FML) is an Australian-based exploration and development group whose focus is to become a significant gold and nickel producer in the Coolgardie-Kalgoorlie-Widgiemooltha region of Western Australia.
Focus Minerals is the largest landholder in the Coolgardie Gold Belt located in Western Australia, 560km east of Perth and 35km west of the 'Super Pit' in Kalgoorlie-Boulder. More than 2.6 million ounces of gold has been produced from the Coolgardie gold belt alone since 1892. Focus holds the mineral rights to more than 210sq km of tenements including an extensive inventory of Measured, Indicated and Inferred gold resources as well as the 1.2mtpa Three Mile Hill processing plant.
Contact:
Campbell Baird
Chief Executive Officer
Focus Minerals Ltd
Neil Le Febvre
Investor Relations Manager
Focus Minerals Ltd
Tel: +61-8-9215-7888
http://www.focusminerals.com.au
