The Matilda gold project incorporates more than 780 km2 of tenements, including previously operated mines and numerous exploration prospects. All of the deposits are within 26 km of the Wiluna gold plant by existing haul roads.

A defi nitive feasibility study completed in February is based on a mining inventory of 8.3 million metric tons (mt) grading 2.9 g/mt of gold and containing 767,000 oz of gold. The inventory includes 6.1 million mt of reserves grading 2.5 g/mt and containing 481,000 oz. Initial mine life is planned at more than seven years, with production averaging 101,000 oz/y during the first five years.

The project’s total resources stand at 45 million mt grading 3.2 g/mt for 4.7 million oz of contained gold.

Pre-production capital costs are estimated at A$32 million. Life-of-mine C1 cash costs are estimated at A$850/oz. Payback, based on $1,207/oz gold, is estimated at 12 months.

Mining at the Matilda project will be undertaken by mining contractors, with Blackham personnel providing management and technical services. The project will operate as a fl y in/fl y out operation from Perth, with local residents employed where possible. Defi nitive feasibility study mine designs were completed on the main mining centers at Matilda, Galaxy, Williamson and Wiluna.

Open-pit mining is planned for Matilda, Williamson, and Galaxy and will utilize conventional drill, blast, load, and haul mining methods. Ore will be hauled by road train to the Wiluna gold plant.

Underground operations at Wiluna have been divided into three distinct areas. Bulletin and Golden Age will be accessed from the existing Bulletin portal and current Golden Age decline. The East West Underground will be accessed from existing underground infrastructure and portal access from the East pit.

Ore from the underground mines will be predominately extracted via top-down mechanized longhole open stoping, with a smaller amount mined by a bottom-up modifi ed Avoca method using unconsolidated backfi ll. The majority of the underground ore is in the top 600 m and has a relatively short haul to surface.