Native Mineral Resources has lifted Blackjack’s weekly doré output for a second consecutive week, with the latest 552oz smelt the operation’s largest since August. October production has reached 1,376.2oz, although the newest bars still await Perth Mint refining.
- 552.0oz of gross doré produced in the 20 October smelt
- October doré production reaches 1,376.2oz across three smelts
- Perth Mint confirms 274.2oz of refined gold from the 13 October smelt
- Cumulative refined gold outturn reaches 6,322.5oz since July 2025
- Approximately 25,000 tonnes of mineralised material stockpiled for processing
Blackjack smelt reaches four-month high
Native Mineral Resources Holdings Limited (ASX:NMR) has produced 552.0oz of gross gold doré from its Blackjack operation near Charters Towers, Queensland, in the latest sign of improving weekly output. The 20 October smelt was the company’s largest since 18 August, when Blackjack produced 649.3oz, and marked a second consecutive weekly increase.
The three bars came from just two strips each in the elution and gravity circuits. The gravity circuit supplied 224.2oz, up 38% from the previous week’s 162.2oz bar, while the elution circuit produced bars weighing 313.3oz and 14.5oz. Perth Mint assay and refined gold and silver outturn for the latest bars are still pending, so the 552.0oz figure should not be treated as refined gold production.
October production moves ahead of September pace
October gross doré production now stands at 1,376.2oz from three weekly smelts, averaging about 458.7oz per smelt. That compares with September’s 1,842.6oz across five smelts, or approximately 368.5oz per smelt. The latest increase extends the production momentum described in the 527.6oz October smelt, which had already taken Blackjack beyond 6,000oz of refined gold.
Perth Mint has now confirmed 274.2oz of refined gold and 187.9oz of refined silver from the 13 October smelt, representing a 76% increase in refined gold from the 155.7oz returned from the 6 October smelt. Blackjack’s cumulative refined outturn has consequently reached 6,322.5oz of gold and 7,161.6oz of silver since production began in July 2025.
Stockpile provides near-term plant feed
Native Mineral Resources says approximately 25,000 tonnes of mineralised material was sitting on the run-of-mine pad as at 20 October, ready to enter the crusher. Managing director and chief executive Blake Cannavo said the operational focus was to keep the plant fed consistently through the December quarter.
One further October smelt is scheduled and is expected to include three strips from each circuit, compared with two strips each in the latest run. The company says October could exceed August’s record 1,080.5oz refined gold outturn, but that comparison remains dependent on the final smelt and Perth Mint results. Mining also continued at Blackjack’s Mid Pit and Podosky, with two blasts completed at each area and another Podosky blast scheduled for 22 October.
Bottom Line?
The next Perth Mint outturn will determine how much of the 552oz doré becomes refined gold and whether October can set a new monthly record.
Questions in the middle?
- What refined gold outturn will Perth Mint assign to the 20 October bars?
- Can the additional October smelt convert the stronger doré pace into a new monthly production record?
- Will the 25,000-tonne ROM stockpile support consistent plant throughput through the December quarter?