Bathurst Council Approves 24-Hour Operations at Vertex's Reward Gold Mine
Vertex Minerals secures key approval for round-the-clock underground mining and blasting at Reward Gold Mine, advancing its path to commercial production.
- Bathurst Regional Council approves 24-hour underground operations
- Modification clears blasting and operational hours at Reward Gold Mine
- High-grade gold resource of 225,200 ounces at 16.72g/t Au
- Underground development and gold processing underway
- Production advancing toward commercial scale
Approval Unlocks Continuous Underground Mining
Vertex Minerals Limited (ASX:VTX) has achieved a pivotal operational milestone with Bathurst Regional Council granting approval for 24-hour underground operations and blasting at its Reward Gold Mine in New South Wales. This modification to the development consent removes previous restrictions on operational hours, enabling the company to intensify underground mining activities around the clock.
Executive Director Operations Jim Simpson described the approval as essential to moving directly toward commercial production, reflecting Vertex’s commitment to ramping up output. The company acknowledged the support from the council and stakeholders, as well as the efforts of its personnel and consultants in securing the consent.
High-Grade Resource and Processing Progress
The Reward Gold Mine boasts a robust mineral resource estimate of 419,000 tonnes at 16.72 grams per tonne gold, equating to 225,200 ounces. This high-grade deposit underpins the project’s economic potential, complemented by ongoing underground development and recent commencement of gold processing through a new Gekko gravity gold plant.
Vertex highlights that production has already started on stockpiles, with underground development continuing. The gravity-only processing method promises up to 95% recovery, a strong efficiency metric for gold extraction. The Reward deposit sits just beneath the historic Hawkins Hill mine, which produced 435,000 ounces at an extraordinary 309 g/t gold grade, underscoring the district’s rich gold endowment.
Broader Project Scale and Future Prospects
The company’s Hill End and Hargraves Gold Project portfolio totals 4.2 million tonnes at 8.7 g/t gold for 482,000 ounces, combining Reward with other deposits such as Hargraves and Red Hill. This scale provides Vertex with a diversified resource base and potential for sustained production growth.
While the announcement does not specify a timeline for full commercial production, the approval for 24-hour underground operations removes a significant bottleneck. Coupled with recent operational advances, including mechanised stoping trials and funding initiatives, Vertex is positioned to accelerate its development trajectory.
Bottom Line?
The green light for continuous underground mining at Reward is a crucial step, but investors should watch for forthcoming production metrics and cost data to gauge the real impact on Vertex’s commercial ramp-up.
Questions in the middle?
- How quickly will Vertex transition to full commercial production following this approval?
- What impact will 24-hour blasting have on underground development rates and costs?
- Can Vertex sustain high recovery rates as underground operations intensify?
