Australia's Gold Duke Project Production Target Increased by 62% to 1.11 Million Tonnes
en.Wedoany.com Reported - On September 17, Australia's Western Gold Resources released the expanded scope study for the Gold Duke Gold Mine, raising the project production target to 1.11 million tonnes of ore at an average gold grade of 1.70 g/t, containing approximately 59,700 ounces of gold. Compared with the September 2025 scope study, ore tonnage increased by 62%; based on a 93% metallurgical recovery rate, approximately 55,500 ounces of gold are expected to be recovered and sold, an increase of 30% over the previous plan.
The updated study incorporates the December 2025 mineral resource update results and 33,980 meters of infill and grade control reverse circulation drilling data. Gold Duke's current mineral resource stands at 4.84 million tonnes at an average gold grade of 1.80 g/t, containing approximately 277,000 ounces of gold, of which measured and indicated resources total 2.05 million tonnes at an average grade of 1.60 g/t, containing approximately 104,000 ounces of gold. Approximately 82% of the production target is derived from measured and indicated resources.
The updated mine design includes 18 separate open pits, employing a conventional shallow open-pit mining approach. Ore is planned to be transported to the Wiluna Processing Plant, approximately 46 kilometers from the project, for toll processing. The binding toll processing agreement between Western Gold Resources and the Wiluna processing facility remains in effect; however, processing arrangements are currently on hold due to operational issues at the Wiluna plant.
The updated plan estimates a mine production period of approximately 21 months. Pre-production capital and startup costs are approximately A$5.35 million, with working capital requirements of approximately A$6.8 million. Based on a gold price assumption of A$6,100 per ounce, the scope study estimates the project could generate approximately A$72.9 million in operating surplus, before project-level capital, financing, and taxes.
The September 2025 version of the study used a production target of 686,000 tonnes of ore at an average gold grade of 2.1 g/t, with estimated gold recovery of 42,800 ounces and a mine plan period of approximately 14 months. The updated plan expands the mining scope based on the resource update, infill drilling, geological model, pit optimization, and mine design.
Western Gold Resources' next phase of work includes continuing to secure available processing time at the Wiluna plant, conducting mine life extension drilling, completing infrastructure and water supply plans, and advancing detailed mine design. Gold Duke is located in the Joyners Find greenstone belt, approximately 35 kilometers southwest of Wiluna in Western Australia, with the Eagle, Emu, Golden Monarch, Gold King, and Joyners Find deposits already included within the existing project approval scope.
