Westgold Resources has kicked off stope mining within the Triton North area of the South Emu-Triton underground mine at its Meekatharra Gold Operations.
The mines host the majority of the Reedy Mining Area’s 1.5moz of gold endowment.
The Triton mine is steeped in Australian mining history as one of the first gold mines developed by Western Mining Corporation (WMC) and one of the early projects where mining legend, the late Sir Arvi Parbo, cut his teeth as a mining engineer.
Operating from 1935 to 1948 under WMC, Triton produced about 720,000t of ore @ 9.8g/t Au for 228,000oz.
Triton’s oxide caps and historic shaft were later mined via open pit by Metana Mineralsin the 1990s and produced more than 250,000oz of gold.
Westgold has been mining at South Emu for more than two years and in 2020 cut a new 700m long decline from the South Emu pit to gain access under the historic Triton Mine. Ore development commenced on two levels on the line of
lode immediately north of the Triton mine where there was no historic stoping.
Independent ventilation and escapeways have now been established and is the catalyst to commence stope production from Triton North.
Previous surface diamond drilling completed by Westgold to test the down plunge continuity of the Triton North lodes returned substantial results showing the system remains very fertile at depth.
Selected results include 9m @ 5.39 g/t Au and 2.9m @ 10.21g/t Au, 2.33m @ 6.56g/t Au and 2.68m @ 109.63 g/t Au.
