Pantoro delivers maiden 310,000-ounce resource as Green Lantern shines
The resource, which is inclusive of a 110,000-ounce ore reserve, maintains the company’s strong momentum at the Norseman Gold JV Project with further upside potential.
Company
ASX:PNR
Pantoro is focused on unlocking the full potential of its 100%-owned Norseman Gold Project. The Norseman Gold Project is located in the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia, at the southern end of the highly productive Norseman-Wiluna greenstone belt, and is one of the highest-grade goldfields within the Yilgarn Craton.
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The resource, which is inclusive of a 110,000-ounce ore reserve, maintains the company’s strong momentum at the Norseman Gold JV Project with further upside potential.
The company is set to begin a 2,500-metre drill program to follow up additional PGE targets identified along strike and to the west of the Edison prospect.
Pantoro will help Maximus grow the existing 112,000-ounce gold mineral resource in the near term and believes the project presents a compelling opportunity.
The Australian gold explorer and producer continues to evolve assets across West Australia’s Goldfields region, with results from exploration at both the Halls Creek and Norseman projects tabled this week.
Results suggest that high-grade mineral resources and ore reserves from Mainfield will be included in future optimisations of the phase one mine plan.
Initial drilling has only tested 150 metres along strike to date and is the only drilling to effectively test any of the potential eight kilometres of this stratigraphy to the southern extent of the company’s tenure in the Scotia area.
Sailfish represents Pantoro’s first drilling prospect on Lake Cowan, and the results to date have demonstrated the huge potential to continue to uncover high-grade mineralisation throughout this under-explored area.
The aim of the drilling program was to convert existing inferred mineralisation to ore reserve status.
The drilling program has focused on infilling and expanding the existing mineral resource, for conversion to ore reserve status.
"Deconstruction of the existing processing facility has commenced and we look forward to building the project during the next year while we continue to grow the resource base through substantial ongoing drilling programs,” says MD.
The deposit presents an extensive and expanding zone of near-surface gold mineralisation to the southeast of the existing Scotia open pit.
Higher than expected production along with firm international gold prices helped the company record a free cash flow of $7.6 million last quarter from the Halls Creek Operations.
The contract, worth about $57 million, includes the crushing circuit associated with the plant and will be awarded as a guaranteed maximum price contract.
The company has continued to advance its growth strategy within its consolidated Halls Creek regional tenure, which now covers over 1,000 square kilometres and encompasses three of the five significant historical mining centres in the regio
The company is a gold producer with its Halls Creek project in the Kimberley region of WA and is building considerable resources at the 50%-owned Norseman Gold Project.
The new results have provided sufficient additional data for Pantoro to undertake a more substantial program to further refine understanding of deposit geometry, structural and lithological controls during 2021.
Both lodes extend the mineralisation at the Wagtail Underground Mine and could potentially provide upside in the early stages of project development.
The Green Lantern discovery lies around 270 metres to the southeast of the existing Scotia Pit and is open at depth and along strike to the north.
The project will have an average annual production of 108,000 ounces, peaking at 119,000 ounces in year two of production, with LOM average AISC of $1,292 per ounce.
The COVID-19 pandemic did not have any material impact on Halls Creek Project or Norseman Gold Project and the results, particularly in the second half of the year, have been pleasing.
Over five years of operation, ore reserves at Halls Creek inclusive of mine depletion have grown by over 400%, and this latest update sets the scene for continued growth into the future.
Historically, the Norseman Gold Project areas have produced over 5.5 million ounces of gold since operations began in 1935, and is one of, if not the highest grade fields within the Yilgarn Craton.
Earlier in August, Pantoro received firm commitments from sophisticated and professional investors for a share placement to raise about $50 million.
The SPP, which closed on August 26 2020, received valid applications totalling around $7 million.
Scotia Mining Centre, around 25 kilometres south of Norseman, hosts a number of resource areas in close proximity and several zones where high-grade mineral occurrences have not yet been classified.
The company has already raised $50 million to accelerate exploration at the 50%-owned Norseman Gold Project in Western Australia.
The Norseman Gold Project is in the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia, at the southern end of the highly productive Norseman-Wiluna greenstone belt.
Since acquiring a 50% in interest in the Norseman Gold Project in May 2019, the company has sole funded around $23 million of the first $50 million of project expenditure.
A feasibility study for the Norseman JV Project is on track for completion at the end of the current quarter.
Drilling is ongoing with results to be compiled in an updated mineral resource estimate and mining study to be incorporated into a project-wide definitive feasibility study.
The Panda deposit is within the company’s Norseman Gold Project where the current mineral resource sits at 4.4 million ounces of gold.
The initial eight diamond drill program at Sailfish prospect has returned high-grade results highlighting the growing potential of the Norseman project.
A simple three to four-year commencement strategy will pave the way for a long-life operation at the Norseman Gold Project.
The objective of the drill program is to extend the depth of defined mineralisation in the 02 Lode below the 22 Level and to infill Star of Erin Lode mineralisation.
Deeper drilling at Scotia confirms the potential for high-grade underground mining following the initial open pit phase.
Further drilling at Panda will be focused on targeting extensions to mineralisation along strike and down dip.
The company is focused on establishing a clear production development plan for the Norseman Gold Project to support a restart of operations.
The company is encouraged by exploration successes at the Norseman Gold Project in Western Australia.
The OK Underground mine comprises three developed lodes, the Main Lode, the O2 Lode and the Star of Erin Lode.
The company has activated its emergency contingency plan to protect staff, communities and the continuity of its operations in the Kimberley.
In February the company received high-grade drilling results at the Norseman Gold Project which indicated possible extensions to deposits.
The company has five drill rigs in operation at its Norseman gold project in Western Australia.
The company has five drill rigs in operation at Norseman - three on surface undertaking diamond and RC drilling programs focused on resource development; one undertaking exploration on Lake Cowan; and one underground at the OK mine.
The purchase shows support in the company’s exploration strategy at the Norseman Gold Project in Western Australia.
Historically the existing open pits at Gladstone and Scotia were mined at average grades of greater than 4 g/t gold.
The company expects to begin mine planning and ore reserve definition for the Norseman project this quarter with the aim to establish a clear production development plan in support of producing 100,000 ounces per annum and eventually expand
The Daisy South and Gladstone-Everlasting deposits are part of the Gladstone Mining Centre, one of the six key focus areas for Pantoro at Norseman.
Drilling at Scotia is targeting infill and extension of the 413,000-ounce mineral resource to around 150 metres below surface.
The gold producer’s WA projects include its 100%-owned Halls Creek Project in the Kimberley Region and a 50% stake in the Norseman Project south of Kalgoorlie.
Results feature 15 metres at 4.58 g/t gold at the Gladstone-Everlasting deposit, where drilling has been underway since September 2019.
Drilling of the initial production targets is expected to be completed during the first quarter of the 2020 calendar year and will be followed by mine design and approval processes.
Results have been received from a processing plant options review and scoping estimate for the Norseman Gold Project.
Future drilling will be focused on extending the tested strike extent of mineralisation at the Reform mine.
The results make a bold statement for the growth potential of the Wagtail North underground gold mine.
The appointment will ensure development activities at Norseman are on track with two additional drill rigs, for a total of three, due to arrive on-site early this month.
Pantoro’s finances are in good shape with a cash and gold balance of $56 million at the end of FY2019.
The Princess Royal ore system is about 8 kilometres NNE of Norseman in WA and forms part of the North Royal mining centre.
Pantoro is focused on bringing multiple mining centres to mining ready status ahead of production activities to underwrite long-term viability.
Director employment agreements refreshed as Pantoro transitions into a mid-tier gold miner through acquiring 50% of the Norseman project.
The project is considered to be highly prospective with discovery potential for multiple 1+ million ounce deposits.
Shares are now in a trading halt to complete a fully underwritten $43 million placement.
As new drilling is in areas outside of the existing ore reserve estimate, the new results are expected to have a positive impact on the mineral resource and ore reserve update expected June 30, 2019.
Extensive development works are underway at the Wagtail North underground mine and at Wagtail South open pit.
Drill results featured 3.55 metres at 95.89 g/t gold including 1-metre at 317 g/t gold.
The update is based on drilling which showed high-grade continuity of gold mineralisation at Wagtail similar that seen in drilling and mining at the Nicolson’s mine.
Pantoro ended the December 2018 quarter with $20.8 million in cash and gold. The company remains debt free.
The company has started modelling mineral resource estimates for the Perseverance and Star of Kimberley deposits.
December quarter production was up 33% while Pantoro is debt free and has $18.3 million cash and $2.5 million gold on hand.
The company is pursuing prospective targets nearby to complement its Nicolsons operating mine and gold processing plant.
The first batch of results highlights the potential of the underexplored Halls Creek goldfields.
The company reported encouraging results from follow up drilling at the Edison and Paddock Well deposits.
Pantoro is aiming to increase production activities to meet 80,000 gold ounces production target for 2019.
After raising $13 million in a placement, eligible shareholders are able to take part in a share purchase plan.
The debt-free company will direct the funds towards accelerating its efforts, exploration and working capital.
Pantoro is a low-cost gold producer with growth opportunities.
Production for the September 2018 quarter is expected to be 10,000 to 11,000 gold ounces.
The company’s Nicolson’s gold processing plant is the only one in the region.
A bevy of gold miners and developers will front Diggers audiences this week at the presenters’ podium.
The company is well set to deliver its production growth target of 80,000 to 100,000 ounces per annum.
The June 2018 quarter was a defining period in the preparation for continued growth at Nicolsons.
The company believes drilling at Wagtail has only hit the tip of the iceberg.
The company is focussed on achieving production rates of 80,000-100,000 ounces per annum during the first quarter of calendar year 2019.
The ore sorter and all associated infrastructure are expected to be fully operational by the end of the month.
The ore sorter and all associated infrastructure are expected to be fully operational by the end of the month.
Gold production is set to continue growing towards 80-100,000 ounces per annum.
“Fantastic results” have been returned from drilling targeting the Rowdies and Wagtail ore bodies.
The company's AISC for the December quarter 2017 was $990 per ounce.
Additional free cashflow of about $2.6 million per quarter at the current gold price.
Deepest intersection received to date in the Anderson Lode at 130 metres below the current ore reserve.
Drilling at the Western Reef target has returned up to 15.7 g/t gold.
The company is consolidating prospects in the Halls Creek area of Western Australia.
Productions costs are decreasing as Pantoro advances towards 100,000 ounces per annum.
New initiatives are expected to continue the production improvements.
The ore sorter will facilitate growing gold production up to 100,000 ounces per annum.
Shares in Pantoro are trading up 7.8% intra-day to $0.205.
The company is financially secure with $14.6 million in cash and gold.
Pantoro has snapped up a new project for a minimal outlay.
The Nicolsons project poured its first gold in September 2015.
Pantoro is producing from the wholly-owned Nicolsons Gold Project.
Pantoro has the potential to lift gold production to 100,000 per annum.