BULAWAYO – Blanket Mine’s gold output fell by 7,2% on a quarterly basis because of low grades triggered by a fault at the mining shaft, the company said yesterday.
The mine, 49% owned by Canadian junior gold producer, Caledonia Mining, had 10,607 ounces in the first quarter to March 31, lower than the 2013 fourth quarter production of 11,429oz, although it was higher than the 10,472oz achieved in the first quarter of last year.
“(The drop) was due to a sub-horizontal fault which was encountered . . . between 680 and 695m below surface and which had displaced the ore zone. Production on these panels was stopped and re-development was required to establish other panels at the required grade,” the company said in a trading update.
Production in February was also affected by an unstable power supply and by the disruption caused by unscheduled repairs on No Four Shaft.
The company said it expects to meet the 2014 production target of 48,000oz.
— The Source
