Red 5 Ltd has reported an updated resource and maiden reserve estimate for the Great Western gold deposit in Western Australia, at the same time as confirming Pit N Portal, a division of Emeco, will contract mine the open-pit asset.

A satellite deposit located around 55 kms from Red 5’s Darlot gold mine and processing facility, Great Western now comes with a measured, indicated and inferred resource of 870,000 t grading 2.5 g/t Au for 70,300 oz of contained gold. The maiden proven and probable reserve totals 437,500 t at 2.5g/t Au for 35,424 oz of contained gold.

Based on a proposed mining rate of between 30,000-40,000 t/mth of ore, the open pit is expected to be completed over a period of around 13 months, with plans to then access the underground orebody via a portal at the base of the pit, Red 5 says.

The company expects to commence open-pit mining in January with Pit N Portal, with ore from the open-pit operation processed at the existing 830,000 t/y gravity and carbon-in-leach Darlot processing facility (pictured).

Red 5 says studies are already underway for the commencement of underground mining following completion of the open pit.

Steve Versteegen, CEO of Pit n Portal, said: “We are thrilled to be continuing our partnership with Red 5 on this project, and also entering the open-cut mining services space with a long-term customer.

“This project allows Pit N Portal to perform the open-cut operations for Darlot gold mine and provides an opportunity for Pit N Portal to continue with Red 5 when it reviews the potential for an underground option accessed via a portal at the base of the pit.”