Pacgold Eyes Second Gold Harvest at White Dam with Re-Crush Initiative
Pacgold is gearing up for a strategic move to extract more value from its White Dam gold operation in South Australia. The company is preparing to re-crush material from its existing heap leach pad, a process designed to unlock additional gold ounces and generate near-term cash flow. This initiative marks a significant step in Pacgold’s transition from an explorer to a producer.
The plan involves deploying new, specialised equipment to revitalise the heap leach process. A Metso screening unit, an HP300 cone crusher, and a radial stacker are en route to the White Dam project, located approximately 80 kilometres east of Broken Hill within the resource-rich Olary Province of South Australia.
Upon installation, this new circuit will be employed to re-crush the top layer of the existing heap leach pad. This technique is a well-established industry practice, often used at gold operations to recover gold that may have been left behind in larger rock fragments after the initial processing cycle.
Matthew Boyes, Managing Director of Pacgold Limited, expressed confidence in the company’s readiness. “With the ST 4.1 Metso screen and HP300 cone crusher scheduled to arrive at the White Dam site shortly, we are well-positioned to commence the re-crush of the heap leach pad’s top lift,” Boyes stated. “Once running at full capacity, the circuit designed throughput is approximately 350 tonnes per hour. We expect to reach the design throughput after a standard ramp-up period.”
Recent Weather and its Impact
The White Dam region recently experienced substantial rainfall, with approximately 100 millimetres of water recorded at the site. This deluge temporarily restricted access to the mine and briefly halted refurbishment activities on the carbon-in-column processing circuit and other essential infrastructure.
Interestingly, the company views this rainfall as potentially beneficial. The added water could prove advantageous for the heap leach pad and associated storage ponds, as water is a critical component for the gold leaching process.
Unlocking Residual Gold: Sampling and Testing
Pacgold is currently awaiting assay results from recent sampling conducted across the top lift of the heap leach pad. Complementary LeachWELL test work is also underway, aimed at quantifying the amount of gold that may still be recoverable. These results, anticipated shortly, are expected to provide a clear indication of the potential gold production rates from the re-crush campaign over the 2026–27 period.
To further bolster confidence in the remaining resource within the pad, Pacgold has initiated a sonic drilling test campaign. Approximately 100 holes are planned across the heap leach facility to meticulously map the distribution of residual gold and pinpoint areas with the highest likelihood of yielding additional recoveries.
White Dam: A Foundation for Growth
White Dam stands as a pivotal asset for Pacgold as it navigates its evolution from an exploration company to a producer. The project boasts pre-existing open pits, a functional heap leach facility, and a fully operational gold extraction plant. This established infrastructure offers a relatively low-capital pathway to achieving near-term cash flow.
The South Australian gold mining operation has a proven track record. In its previous operational phase, the mine processed a considerable 7.5 million tonnes of ore, averaging a grade of 0.94 grams per tonne of gold, yielding approximately 180,000 ounces from the Hannaford and Vertigo pits. The unmined White Dam North resource nearby further solidifies its credentials as a low-risk restart opportunity.
Currently, White Dam hosts a resource of 4.6 million tonnes grading a solid 0.7 grams per tonne of gold, equating to 102,000 ounces. Crucially, this resource estimate does not account for the residual gold present in the existing heap leach pads, which Pacgold views as a compelling near-term value proposition.
Funding Future Exploration
The management team is optimistic that revenue generated from White Dam could play a significant role in funding exploration activities across Pacgold’s broader portfolio. This includes the expansive Alice River intrusion-related gold system in North Queensland and the promising St George gold-antimony project.
Should the re-crush campaign prove successful, the modest South Australian operation could soon be transforming yesterday’s processed material into tomorrow’s valuable gold. With the price of gold remaining robust, hovering above US$5,000 per ounce (exceeding A$7,000), even modest recoveries from the White Dam heap leach pad could swiftly translate into substantial cash flow for the company.
