Catalyst Metals Ltd has been given the green light to begin early works, including portal construction and decline development, at Trident gold deposit within the Plutonic Gold Belt in Western Australia.
A Mining Proposal for Small Mining Operations has been approved by the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS).
This provides the company with the regulatory approval to commence portal and decline work from the existing Marwest open pit towards the Trident deposit and also enables platforms for underground exploration drilling.
De-risks schedule
The approval de-risks the project schedule by allowing early works to commence ahead of final mining approvals.
Catalyst’s managing director & CEO James Champion de Crespigny said: "Importantly, this de-risks the project schedule by allowing critical construction works to commence while final mining approvals are sought.”
Catalyst is now well positioned to begin the early works upon completion of the Trident definitive feasibility study (DFS) and final investment decision (FID), which is expected next year.
A recent scoping study for Trident demonstrated the potential for a high grade (6.7 g/t head grade), low AISC (A$1,046/ounce) and low capital intensity (pre-production capital of A$36 million) project.
De Crespigny added: “This is an important milestone for Catalyst. Completion of the DFS is fast approaching.
"Subject to FID, this approval will allow us to commence early works at the Trident deposit.”
Multi-asset strategy
Catalyst Metals has a multi-asset strategy encompassing three highly prospective gold belts in Australia. It owns the 40-kilometre-long Plutonic Gold Belt in Western Australia hosting the Plutonic gold mine and neighbouring underexplored, high-grade resources.
The company also owns and operates the high-grade Henty Gold Mine in Tasmania which lies within the 25-kilometre Henty gold belt. Production to date is 1.4 million ounces at 8.9 g/t gold.
Catalyst also controls +75-kilometres of strike length immediately north of the +22-million-ounce Bendigo goldfield and home to high-grade, greenfield resources at Four Eagles.