Navigator Resources plant 150000 Oz. Gold

jährlich zu produzieren - es scheint ein Erfolg zu werden, wenn man dem letzen Bericht liest.

Der Erzgehalt ist um 66% höher als geplant gewesen.

LEONORA TRIAL MILLING UPDATE
Navigator Resources Ltd (ASX: NAV) is pleased to provide the following progress report
on the first ore processing trial completed in April 2010 from its 100% owned Leonora
Gold Project (LGP).
Highlights
* 8,918 tonnes Bruno open pit ore milled.
* Excellent gold recovery of over 98%.
* Reconciled ore grade of 2.83g/t significantly higher than the average
grade estimated by the Resource modelling.
* 796.8oz of gold produced which generated $1 million of revenue.
* No metallurgical issues identified.
* Next milling campaign commenced yesterday (13 May).
The first parcel of ore in the 75,000 tonne trial mining and milling program was milled
through St Barbara Limited’s Gwalia processing plant during the period 13th to 19th
April 2010.
St Barbara’s processing plant is designed for treating predominantly hardrock/primary
ore. However, having regard to the mine schedule and availability of ore, it was
decided to process exclusively Bruno supergene ore as the first ore parcel. This has
enabled Navigator to test the grade of the Bruno supergene ore compared to the ore
grade as estimated by Resource modelling of material from within the pit design.
Significant rain during ore haulage resulted in damp supergene clay ore from Bruno
being delivered to the mill. This resulted in lower throughput rates than would normally
be expected from oxide material.
Mill throughput averaged less than 100 tonnes per hour, which is below the optimal
throughput level of the plant and less than St Barbara’s throughput on underground
hardrock ore. Due to the soft nature of the ore and the slow feed rate, the grind was
very fine with 100% passing 75 microns with a mean of ~20 microns. This led to low
levels of gold reporting to the gravity circuit and the majority reporting to the leaching
circuit.
Despite the low amount of gravity gold, recovery through the plant was very high at
98.2% which confirmed that the ore is amenable to normal CIL treatment methods.
The average grade of the Bruno ore from within the pit design had been estimated at
1.7g/t gold. The final plant reconciliation head grade was 2.83g/t gold, thus indicating
an overcall of 66% for the gold grade of the processed ore. The overcall is significant
and whilst the Company believes this first parcel of ore was representative of the ore
mined to date from the Bruno pit, the next milling campaign will add further
information on whether this grade uplift could reasonably be expected over the entire
Bruno pit.
Results Summary
Tonnes Milled 8,918 tonnes
Head Grade 2.83g/t Au
Recovery 98.2%
Fine Gold Produced 796.8oz
Sale Value A$1,007,000
NEXT MILLING CAMPAIGN
The second milling campaign commenced yesterday (13 May) and it is intended to
treat approximately 25,000 tonnes of material which will comprise a blend of Mert 2
hard rock and Bruno soft supergene ore types. This mix has been selected to provide
a better flow of material through the plant which will result in less hang-ups and
therefore better throughput rates.
Navigator continues to gain valuable information and remove mining and processing
uncertainties, thereby obtaining greater confidence in its decision making aimed at the
LGP becoming its second producing gold operation.
Managing Director
NAVIGATOR RESOURCES LIMITED
For Further Information:
Please direct any queries, or requests for further information, to:
David Hatch
Email: navigator@navigatorresources.com.au
Tel: (08) 9226 5311
ABOUT NAVIGATOR
Navigator Resources Limited (ASX: NAV) transitioned from explorer to producer in April
2010 and its objective is to build value for shareholders by becoming a highly regarded
and profitable gold producer with a pipeline of advanced projects.
The Company acquired the Bronzewing Gold Project (located 960km northeast of
Perth) in late 2009, and this Project recommenced production in April 2010. Navigator
also continues to pursue development opportunities at the Leonora Gold Project
(located 830km northeast of Perth) by initially carrying out a trial mining program.
Both gold projects are well located with respect to regional infrastructure, being in the
heart of the northeastern goldfields region of Western Australia. All required mining
permits and granted mining leases are in place both at Bronzewing and Leonora. The
Company’s medium term objective is to target 150,000oz pa of gold production from
these two open pit projects.
Navigator also maintains an interest in assets in the East Kimberley region of WA,
including the 100% owned Cummins Range Rare Earth Project.