Pacgold has poured its second gold doré bar at White Dam and is fast-tracking plans to restart mining at Vertigo pit six months ahead of schedule.
- Second gold pour yields 97oz doré bar
- Re-crushing and irrigation progressing well
- Drilling completed at Vertigo, ongoing at White Dam North
- Early restart of Vertigo pit under evaluation
- Heap leach pad expansion design on track for Q4 2026
Second Gold Pour Signals Production Momentum
Pacgold Limited (ASX:PGO) has marked a significant milestone at its White Dam Gold Project with the successful pouring of a second gold doré bar weighing approximately 97 ounces. This latest pour reflects gold recovered from the initial aeration of the eastern and western margins of the heap leach pad, underscoring the progress in ramping up production following the restart of processing operations.
While no newly leached gold has yet reached the base of the pad since irrigation began on the re-crushed material, high-grade leachate has been confirmed at the base of the re-crush lift, validating the re-crush strategy to enhance gold recovery. To date, 120,000 tonnes of material have been re-crushed and placed under irrigation, with a further 50,000 tonnes expected by the end of June.
Drilling Advances Resource Expansion and Mine Planning
Exploration drilling is progressing steadily, with Pacgold completing a 3,000-metre Reverse Circulation (RC) program at the Vertigo deposit aimed at expanding resources and supporting a faster restart of mining operations. Drilling has shifted to White Dam North, where 700 metres have been completed, and the program is on track for completion by mid-July before moving on to other regional targets.
Entech has been engaged to update the Vertigo Mineral Resource Estimate, alongside new pit optimisations and mine designs. This work is critical as Pacgold evaluates an early restart of the Vertigo pit, potentially bringing forward mining operations by six months to late 2026. The early restart focuses on accessing fresh oxide ore along the northern and eastern pit margins, offering a near-term production boost without requiring additional permits or capital expenditure.
Heap Leach Pad Expansion on Track for Late 2026
To support ongoing production growth, Pacgold is advancing the design of a heap leach pad expansion capable of accommodating approximately four million tonnes of ore from Vertigo, White Dam North, and Hannaford. The final design is scheduled for completion by late July, with construction planned to commence in the fourth quarter of 2026, pending approvals.
Pacgold’s Managing Director, Matthew Boyes, highlighted the significance of the second gold pour and the re-crush validation in enhancing cash flow, while emphasising the strategic priority of returning to full-scale mining. He noted that resource updates and drilling results expected in the coming weeks will inform permitting and contractor engagement to accelerate the Vertigo pit restart.
Bottom Line?
Pacgold’s early Vertigo restart and heap leach pad expansion could materially accelerate production, but investors should watch for updated resource estimates and permitting progress in the coming months.
Questions in the middle?
- Will the updated Mineral Resource Estimate confirm sufficient fresh oxide ore to justify the early Vertigo restart?
- How quickly can Pacgold ramp up production once the Vertigo pit reopens?
- What are the potential cost and permitting risks associated with the heap leach pad expansion?