Ann: Focus Commences Ore Production at Tindals Op, page-8

re: Ann: Focus Commences Ore Production at Ti...
This is the article from the Western Australian media annouced at 08.30 today,thanks for the direction to article

Focus begins open pit production--The West Australian


Focus Minerals says it has begun production from its new open pit operations at the Tindals Mining Centre near Coolgardie and is on track to deliver 100,000 ounces of gold this calendar year.

The company said mining had begun at its Empress open pit, enabling Focus to immediately replace its low grade stockpile mill feed with higher-grade ore.

Focus said the open pits formed the third leg of its production strategy, joining existing underground mining operations at Tindals and its recently opened mine at The Mount, 85km to the south.

The open pits are expected to add 30,000 ounces to Focus' total annual production.

Focus chief executive Campbell Baird said the real attraction of the open pits was the relatively high-grade, shallow mineralisation on offer which would help increase the overall grades through the mill.

The open pits have probable reserves of 505,000 tonnes at 2.14 grams per tonne for 34,700 ounces and are less than 5km from the company's Three Mile Hill treatment plant.

Focus shares were up 0.1 cents, or 1.37 per cent, to 7.4 cents at 8.35am.