Discovery Metals said ramp-up of production at its Boseto Copper project is continued although mining production was affected by shortage of blasted stocks due to rain.
In an update to shareholders, the company revealed that the highest monthly copper production to date was recorded in February, with concentrate production of 3,834 t containing 1,529 t Cu and 63,024 oz Ag.
The concentrator throughput was approximately 91% of design rate for the 23 days operated, it added.
“Mining production (waste plus ore) for February 2013 was 2.4 Mt. This was slightly above January mining production. The main contributor to lower than planned production was the lack of blasted stocks at the beginning of the month due to rain,” Discovery Metals said.
However, the company said measures aimed at improving mining production including changes made to drill and blast designs have improved blasting outcomes.
The blasted stocks ahead of mining increased from nil at the start of February to approximately 500,000 tonnes by month end.
Also the use of the 18 m3 capacity buckets on the 350 tonnes excavators as reported in January is improving loading cycles and further improvement is anticipated.
The company has moved one 350 tonne excavator to the Plutus Open Pit, in conjunction with the trucks hired from Basil Read. To date approximately 380,000 tonnes of material have been removed from the first stage of the Plutus Open Pit.
“The key area being targeted to achieve the required amount of ore feed is the mine, where the company continues to advance initiatives for improving drilling, blasting and truck loading cycles. The ability to increase blasted stocks in February is indicative of the improvements being made,” Discovery said on the outlook.
Milled tonnage for the month was 187,994 t at an average daily rate of approximately 8,173t/d for the 23 days operated in February. “This rate is 91% of the overall design capacity.”
In February, 160,138 tonnes of normal grade mill feed produced 3,557 tonnes of concentrate (at 40% Cu) while the concentrator recovered 80% of the copper and 80% of the silver from the normal grade ore milled.
In addition, 27,856 tonnes of low grade material (<0.6% Cu) was campaign milled and processed from stockpile during the month producing 277 tonnes of concentrate (at 39 %Cu). The concentrator recovered 54 % of the copper and 59% of the silver from this low grade material.
In the same month, concentrate production was 3,834 tonnes at 40% copper containing 1,529 tonnes of copper and 63,024 ounces of silver. This was the highest monthly metal production figure from the Boseto copper project to date.
“Mine production, concentrator feed and concentrate production are all expected to increase further towards design rates in March 2013,” Discovery Metals added.
“The mill continues to demonstrate its overall capability. In the three months since 1 December 2012 the mill has processed 444 kt over 54 operating days at an average rate of 8,222 t/d, which is equal to 98% of design capacity. The Company remains confident that the mill will be able to exceed design capacity when sufficient ore feed is available from the mine.”
