[miningmx.com] — EASTERN Platinum said on Friday that production from its the Crocodile River Mine (CRM) for the second quarter ended June 2010 increased 1% to 30,820 ounces compared to the first quarter.
However, this was 7.7% lower than the 33,383 oz produced at the June quarter last year.
Run-of-mine tonnes hoisted and on-reef development metres were down 2% and 19% respectively compared to the first quarter of 2010 owing to the dismissal of 15 contract stoping crews in May.
Full replacement of these crews was completed in July 2010.
Eastplats expects on-reef development and production will increase once the new crews have been properly inducted and trained, said Ian Rozier, president and CEO of Eastplats.
The contract crews were dismissed due to management’s concerns over their safety procedures. Lost-time injury frequency rate (LTIFR) was 2.78, compared to 1.77 in the first quarter of 2010, he added.
A surface stockpile of 10,556 tonnes – representing approximately 1,100 recoverable PGM ounces – was measured at the end of the quarter. Head grade was maintained at 4.1g/t and concentrator recovery increased to an average of 80% for the quarter.
Underground development commenced at Crocette on April 4, 2010 in accordance with the planned CRM production growth schedule.
Eastplats will release its full second quarter results on Wednesday, August 11.
