Novo Resources Corp has taken delivery of its Steinert KSS mechanical sorter, which will be deployed at its wholly-owned Purdy’s Reward and Comet Well JV gold projects, in Western Australia. The Steinert KSS mechanical sorter has arrived into the port of Fremantle (Perth) and is currently being delivered to Steinert’s test facility. Novo has also provided an operational update from its Beatons Creek gold project and Nullagine processing facility, the so-called Golden Eagle Mill.
On the sorting project, orders have been placed for all long lead items (feeder hopper, feeder conveyor, discharge conveyors). Pre-assembly will occur at the Steinert/OPS facility in Bibra Lake (Perth) prior to mobilisation to site. Planning is well advanced with design of support infrastructure – compressed air, power, cyclone rated shelter/offices. The Comet Well/Purdy’s Reward mechanical sorting trial remains on track to commence in April 2021 subject to receiving requisite approvals from the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation, and Safety and the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation. Ngarluma Aboriginal Corporation approval has been granted.
Regarding the Beatons Creek and Nullagine Gold Project, development at Beatons Creek and refurbishment at the Golden Eagle Mill continue to progress safely, on schedule and within budget. Recent key milestones achieved include mining contractor systems alignment and pre-mobilisation works proceeding to plan to support arrival of first plant and personnel from December 14, grade control drilling now operating day and night shifts as planned and site personnel (including contractors) now totalling 80. Senior Iron Mine Contracting Pty Ltd (IMCPL) personnel have attended site post contract award and are in advanced stages of planning to support the arrival of first plant and equipment from December 14.
Grade control reverse circulation drilling by Castle Drilling continues to progress well across the Edwards and Grant’s Hill areas, with high density drilling underway (10 m x 10 m drill hole spacing and 0.5 m sample interval. Grade control drilling has now shifted to day and night shifts as planned to accelerate works ahead of mining; and sample dispatches continue to be transported to MinAnalytical in Kalgoorlie for gold PhotonAssay.
Australian Aboriginal Heritage Act Section 18 removal and relocation of Aboriginal artefacts from around the Grant’s Hill area completely successfully under the supervision of custodians of the land at Beatons Creek. Topsoil stripping of Grant’s Hill waste dump location has commenced, office and laydown pads have been established at Beatons Creek, with office buildings being relocated from the Golden Eagle Mill location commencing on December 10, 2020; and Lacy Contracting Services P/L have been retained to conduct preliminary haulage works from Beatons Creek to the Golden Eagle Mill, with haulage starting immediately with a single truck to relocate historical stockpiles of ore to the Golden Eagle ROM pad.
At the Golden Eagle Mill works continue with refurbished key componentry returning from Perth for installation – all continues according to schedule. Work in the leach tanks and launders continues to plan, with six tanks fully refurbished ahead of reinstallation of trash screens, carbon pumps and agitators, with refurbishment works in the remaining three tanks due for completion prior to year’s end. Burgess BLA (specialist mill contractors) have attended site to inspect all operational aspects of the mill, including alignment, motor, gearbox, girth gear, pinion, lubrication systems and feed and discharge end bearings. Bearings and girth gear have been assessed and ready for operations. Seals have been replaced with final components being manufactured in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia ready for installation next month. Final motor and gearbox alignment will be undertaken immediately prior to commissioning in mid-January 2021.
Foundations have now been completed for the upgraded Acacia reactor unit along with new elution tank footings in the gold room. The mining contractor’s workshop slab is nearing completion. The GR Engineering Services (GRES) scope currently stands at approximately 50% complete, with works continuing on schedule and within budget with no material issues or problems encountered thus far. Long lead items have all been ordered and arrival dates remain within the refurbishment schedule.
A three year camp management and catering services contract has been awarded to Cater Care Services P/L. Cater Care’s experience as the previous camp operator stands them in good stead for delivering an excellent service at the site. The permanent surface haulage contract package is out for tender, with solid progress being made with numerous other commercial agreements for fuel supply, processing reagents, assay laboratory services and flights.
Novo CEO and Director Rob Humphryson commented: “GRES and their key subcontractors Duratech P/L and Northfields WA P/L continue to perform outstanding work. The further we move through plant refurbishment works without encountering major operational issues, the more we de-risk the start-up and commissioning phases of the project. On the people front, Novo is assembling an outstanding team across all facets of the operation, with observable levels of enthusiasm, commitment and communication auguring well for the future success of the operation.”