St. Andrew set to begin gold production at Stock

Rated at 500 tons per day, the new mill is the latest addition to the project, which entered the advanced exploration stage in 1983 following a $14-million equity financing. In the ensuing six years, St Andrew has developed a reserve base of 1 million tons grading 0.184 oz gold per ton in three zones, built a 500-ton-per day mill and completed the required underground development.

The long time period, while appearing excessive to some eager shareholders, was required, Zavesiczky explained. The company wants to ensure that when production does begin, it won’t be plagued by the same problems which have afflicted numerous other projects and companies over the past two years.

“We’ve tested everything before starting production,” Andre Tardif, metallurgical consultant to the company, explained. A 5,000-ton bulk sample of waste material was processed earlier this year, Tardif said. “The aim of that test was to check everything out. Few people have done this in the past.”

When full production begins, St Andrew will be capable of producing about 30,000 oz of gold per year from the N2, M1 and M2 zones which host the reserves. Access is via an 885-ft shaft and four mining levels.

At the time of the site visit, the company was preparing five stopes for production. Surface stockpiles include 31,000 tons of rock grading 0.1 oz gold per ton which was taken during development, and a higher grading 4,000 tons averaging 0.39 oz gold per ton. “We plan to deliver 0.16-0.17 grade material to the fine ore bin,” Zavesiczky explained.

Initial production will be at a rate of 350 tons per day followed by full production in early 1990.

In addition to mining and developing blocks for extraction, St Andrew will also be active in exploration. The company controls about 11 miles of s trike along the Destor- Porcupine fault, which hosts the known reserves.

To the west of the main zones at the mine, Zavesiczky would like to drive an exploratory decline ramp to test several attractive targets. “These are solid exploration targets, not blue sky,” he stressed. Surface drilling in the target area yielded results of 0.16 oz gold per ton across 8.6 ft and 0.11 oz gold across 15 ft.

In the mill, Tardif is looking to recoveries in excess of 93%. A cyanide destruction circuit has also been included. This will ensure that clean back-fill is produced. Final gold recovery will take place in three CIP columns followed by electrowinning onto steel wool which will be melted in an induction furnace for the final pour.

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