OPERATIONS

Castle Mountain marks first gold pour

Equinox Gold has poured first gold at the Castle Mountain mine in California, US.

 First gold at Equinox's Castle Mountain was 727 ounces

First gold at Equinox's Castle Mountain was 727 ounces

The initial pour totaled 727 ounces, the company said.

Construction of phase 1 for the San Bernardino County operation was completed in mid-September; at that time, the miner said irrigation of the leach pad for the heap leach mine was in progress.

"Pouring first gold at Castle Mountain, our newest producing mine in the Americas and our second operating mine in California, launches what will be a long-life flagship asset for the company," chief executive Christian Milau said.

He also noted the achievement was met on time, on budget and with no lost-time injuries.

A study of the mine previously outlined production goals of 45,000 ounces annually in phase 1 and more than 200,000oz per year in the second phase.

Loaded carbon from the Castle Mountain mine will be processed in a carbon stripping and smelting plant at the company's Mesquite mine, also in California about 200 miles south of the complex. That, it said, will allow for increased operating efficiencies for both mines.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining Magazine Intelligence team.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining Magazine Intelligence team.

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Exploration Report 2024 (feat. Opaxe data)

A comprehensive review of exploration trends and technologies, highlighting the best intercepts and discoveries and the latest initial resource estimates.

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Future Fleets Report 2024

The report paints a picture of the equipment landscape and includes detailed profiles of mines that are employing these fleets

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Digitalisation Report 2023

An in-depth review of operations that use digitalisation technology to drive improvements across all areas of mining production

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Automation Report 2023

An in-depth review of operations using autonomous solutions in every region and sector, including analysis of the factors driving investment decisions