Name of the Project
Dalgaranga gold project.

Location
Dalgaranga greenstone belt, in the Murchison province of Western Australia.

Project Owner/s
Gold company Spartan Resources.

Project Description
Spartan considers Dalgaranga one of the best gold development and production restart projects worldwide.

The project’s licences cover about 509 km² in the prospective Murchison gold district.

The mine was initially commissioned in 2018 and comprises a fully established gold mine, an estimated 2.5-million-tonne-a-year carbon-in-leach processing facility, modern camp accommodation and an airstrip. 

The mine was placed on care and maintenance in November 2022 to implement an operational reset designed to preserve the value of its extensive infrastructure and resource base while developing a new, sustainable operating plan.

This approach is underpinned by the exceptional high-grade Never Never gold deposit, which is situated 1 km from the existing carbon-in-leach processing facility and the main openpit at Dalgaranga. The deposit comprises a current Joint Ore Reserves Committee-compliant mineral resource estimate of 1.49-million ounces at an average grade of 8.07 g/t gold.

Potential Job Creation
Not stated.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
Under review.

Capital Expenditure
Under review.

Planned Start/End Date
Under review.

Latest Developments
Spartan Resources has updated the mineral resource estimate (MRE) for the Pepper and Never Never gold deposits, which are part of its Dalgaranga gold project.

The Pepper deposit resources, located on granted mining leases within 600 m of the 2.5-million-tonne-a-year processing plant, has increased by 99%, to 2.64-million tonnes, at 10.31 g/t for 873 400 oz.

Spartan Resources interim chairperson Simon Lawson has indicated that 88%, or 767 200 oz, of the Pepper deposit’s MRE is classified at the higher confidence indicated level at a “spectacular grade of 12.18 g/t”.

The latest MRE propels the combined resources for these two deposits to 2.37-million ounces grading 8.7 g/t gold with 1.87-million ounces at 9.81 g/t classified as indicated, providing a platform for a long-term, high-grade underground gold mining operation.

The indicated resources will underpin Spartan’s mine scheduling work and feasibility studies, which are well progressed.

During the year, Spartan has managed to increase the high-grade portion of the Dalgaranga gold project, including Never Never and Pepper, from 860 000 oz to 2.37-million ounces – an increase in contained ounces of 176%.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
Not disclosed.

Contact Details for Project Information
Spartan Resources, tel +61 8 9481 3434 or email admin@spartan1.com.au.