

URSACHE für die Kursexplosion:
Batavia considering new development
Brad Ricks
Monday, November 29, 2004
BATAVIA Mining has lost its managing director and updated the
resource at its Gullewa gold-copper project in Western Australia,
with the plan being to get back into production next year using an
alternative treatment option to process the complex oxide
resource.
The new resource estimate at the Deflector deposit – as calculated
by Snowden Mining Industry Consultants – stands at 1.14 million
tonnes grading 6.2 grams per tonne gold and 1.31% copper,
representing a reduction in tonnes from 1.83Mt in the previous
resource estimate.
Total gold equivalent ounces have also fallen from 342,000oz to
323,000oz, but the average gold grade has increased from 5.83gpt,
which, the company said, is expected
to have a positive economic
impact of the feasibility study .
As for the problematic oxide resource, Batavia said several
treatment options had been assessed, however the company is now
confident the best processing method would include a combination of
agitated acid leach (AAL) and carbon in leach (CIL).
Batavia said the process leached acid soluble copper from the ore
into solution, which in turn was concentrated into a copper cement
or copper sulphate product.
The copper-depleted ore is then treated through the existing CIL
circuit to produce gold bullion.
Meantime managing director Alan Downie has resigned from his
position effective immediately, to focus on other business
opportunities.
Downie will remain with the company in a consultancy role until the
completion of the Gullewa feasibility study.
Executive chairman John Barr and director Paul Odd will manage the
day-to-day running of the business until the company can find a
replacement.
Batavia took over at Gullewa after the previous operator Menzies
Gold suffered cashflow problems following the unplanned treatment
of ore containing copper prevented the recovery of gold.
The company had originally forecast capital costs for the project
of about $8 million, and was planning to be in production by the
end of this year.
Shares in Batavia closed up 37.2% 5.9c.
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