GRUYERE JV CELEBRATES ONE MILLION OUNCES OF GOLD PRODUCTION
GLOBAL NEWS •
The US GEOLOGICAL SURVEY ( USGS ), in cooperation with the Montana Bureau of Mines , is conducting a high-resolution flyover , an aeromagnetic and aero-radiometric survey at the Sheep Creek , Montana property – as part of the USGS Earth Mapping Resource Initiative ( EMRI ). Detailed geologic mapping and geochemical sampling will also be conducted to further define rare earth mineralisation already identified .
According to the USGS , " The goal of Earth MRI is to improve our knowledge of the geologic framework in the United States and to identify areas that may have the potential to contain undiscovered critical mineral resources . Enhancement of our domestic mineral supply will decrease the nation ’ s reliance on foreign sources of minerals that are fundamental to our security and economy .”
US Critical Materials haspreviously announced that its Sheep Creek deposit has the highest reported total rare-earth oxide grades ( TREO ) of any rare earth deposit in the United States . Sheep Creek also has exceptionally low radioactive thorium , which will allow for more environmentally friendly extracting and processing .
The company has nearly nine percent TREO ( 89 932ppm ), far ahead of any other domestic rare earth resource . The deposit also has readings of 2.4 % ( 23 810ppm ) combined neodymium and praseodymium , which are both essential for the green economy .
President of the company Jim Hedrick , a rare earth commodity specialist formerly with the USGS , states , " The combination of high-grade rare earths , low thorium , and multiple carbonatites is a geological phenomenon that does not exist in other reported US deposits . Over the course of my career , I have never encountered a US property with the high rare earth grades being generated by Sheep Creek .”
He adds , " The company ’ s geologists have discovered multiple carbonatites and believe there may be a common underground source for these carbonatites .”
The total claim block held by US Critical Materials is 7 square miles , which the USGS will help explore , map and sample .
Sheep Creek deposit has the highest reported TREO grades in the US .
AUSTRALIA :
GRUYERE JV CELEBRATES ONE MILLION OUNCES OF GOLD PRODUCTION
In the first week of April this year , less than four years since its first pour in June 2019 , the Gruyere Joint Venture team celebrated its first one million ounces of production .
The Gruyere JV is a 50:50 joint venture between Gold Road Resources and Gold Fields , which manages and operates the Gruyere mine . The long life , low cost , Tier 1 gold mine is located 1 200km north-east of Perth in Western Australia ’ s north-east Goldfields region .
Duncan Gibbs , Gold Road Resources CEO , congratulated the Gruyere JV team on the safe delivery of the production milestone . “ The Gruyere team has performed safely and sustainably at an impressive rate that has seen this milestone achieved in line with annual guidance ,” he said .
Stuart Mathews , executive vice president Australasia for Gold Fields Australia said , “ We are proud of the team on reaching this milestone and on the delivery of projects like the Gruyere solar farm that was launched in 2022 and supports our global decarbonisation objectives .”
He noted , “ The solar component of Gruyere ’ s hybrid microgrid accounts for approximately 10 % of the operation ’ s electricity consumption . We are all excited about opportunities this microgrid offers to explore options to increase renewable energy generation at site .”
Gruyere Joint Venture general manager Karl Stokes added , “ We are very grateful for the support from our local stakeholders especially the Yilka People and the Cosmo Newberry community .”
www . africanmining . co . za African Mining Publication African Mining African Mining • July 2023 • 9