Alba Mineral Resources PLC has released an operational update on the progress of ongoing works at the Clogau-St David's Gold Mine in north Wales. The company reported that all fines from Trenches 1 and 3 at the historic Clogau waste tip have been processed for their gold content, with 16.4 grams produced from Trench 1 and 14.2 grams from Trench 3, equating to a back-calculated head grade for the -20mm fines material of 3.83 g/t from Trench 1 and 2.68 g/t from Trench 3, with an overall average of 3.19 g/t.
The underground safety and access works have been completed, including the installation of ladderways to provide access to No.5 Level. Ongoing underground works have confirmed significant completed historic development between No. 4 and No.5 Levels, providing further opportunity for sampling and access to payshoot. No.5 Level has been dewatered and surveyed, with no further safety works identified, although substantial amounts of ore and tailings from previous mining will need to be removed and assayed for gold content.
George Frangeskides, Executive Chairman, expressed his satisfaction with the ongoing operations at the Clogau Gold Mine, stating, "This is a highly creditable result for an on-surface waste tip and gives us a lot of confidence in the exploitation of the Waste Tip as a whole." He also mentioned that the company will continue and complete the remainder of the planned trenching and processing program before making a final decision on the wider exploitation of the tip.
The company's ongoing preparations for the underground bulk sampling of the Llechfraith Target have seen the completion of safety and access works on No.4 Level, including installing ladderways to enable the team to access No.5 Level for blasting. No.5 Level has been dewatered and is now accessible, with an initial survey not identifying any further safety or remedial works required. The company has confirmed extensive historical development between No.4 and No.5 Level, with the existence of a horizontal level running approximately 20 meters in length, providing further opportunities for sampling and access to the targeted payshoot.
Alba Mineral Resources PLC is pleased with the overall result indicated from the processing of the fines, which has returned a back-calculated average head grade for the -20mm fines of 3.19 g/t. The company will continue and complete the remainder of its planned trenching program before making a final decision on the wider exploitation of the tip involving the submission of an application for planning permission.