Barminco awarded $18.3m Dalgaranga contract

Barminco has received a development contract for underground exploration at Spartan Resources’ (ASX: SPR) Dalgaranga gold project in WA.

The $18.3m contract allows for 2350m of development to deliver twin decline access for the establishment of underground drilling platforms to in-fill and extend mineralisation within the Never Never, Pepper, Four Pillars and West Winds areas.

All of these high-grade gold zones are located along an 800m-long, semi-continuously mineralised horizon. The exploration drill drive designed to run parallel and adjacent to the horizon to provide underground drill platforms to more effectively design these areas as well as explore for further high-grade shoots.

Spartan managing director and chief executive Simon Lawson says the company is delighted to be working with Barminco.

“All of the high-grade deposits and prospects discovered at Dalgaranga over the past two years remain open at depth — with mineralisation at the Never Never deposit now defined to beyond 1km below surface — and we’re very excited to get the underground rigs in place to help determine just how deep this high-grade mineralisation extends,” he said.

“Importantly, the drill drive is being constructed using the same dimensions as a standard underground mine development, ensuring it can be incorporated into our infrastructure planning for the future re-commencement of mining operations.”

Construction of the drill drive is on-track to begin in the September quarter and is expected to take 10 months to complete.

All regulatory mining approvals and support services are in place, and an experienced on-site project team to manage and oversee the development and construction process has been established.