KBL Mining Ltd (ASX:KBL) is pleased to announce that the CIL gold processing plant has commenced operations.As reported to the market, the planned shutdown on 19 November successfully connected the CIL into the back end of the process plant to allow it to come online. The new innovative cyanide handling system was commissioned and slurry from the flotation tails fed through the plant. Carbon will be added in the next two days and the CIL will move to full production. The plant will be run at 30 tonnes an hour, fed from the flotation tails and subsequently oxide ore will be introduced to bring the throughput up to 50 tonnes per hour.
The plan is to continue to treat 30 tonnes per hour of 6.5 grams per tonne of sulphide ore through 'Ball Mill One' and the flotation plant, with recovery of up to 70% of the gold to float concentrate. With the CIL coming online, a further 15% of the gold will be recovered to doré (gold bars) by the CIL treatment of the float tails. A further 20 tonnes per hour of oxide ore will be treated through 'Ball Mill Two' directly to the CIL that is scheduled to recover 97% of the 3 to 4 grams of gold per tonne oxide feed grade.
As the open cut Pearse ore has a Lower Bond Work Index than underground ore, throughput is expected to exceed the 300,000 tonnes per annum achieved on underground ore. Gold production is expected to be around 30,000 ozs per annum with C1 cost at Mineral Hill ranging between $500 and $600/oz of gold.
The first gold pour from the new plant is scheduled for December 2015.
Brian Wesson Managing Director KBL Mining Ltd T: +61 2 9927 2000 E: info@kblmining.com.au WWW: www.kblmining.com.au
