difficult to develop and run a successful operation. You can
have the best ground in the world, but without the right
people to mine it – it’s worthless,” said Mr Goodz.
“
The combination of experience, local knowledge and
business acumen will ensure MacPhersons will continue
on our road to production and to create Kalgoorlie’s Silver
Superpit at Nimbus.”
The Nimbus mine operated from 2003 to 2007,
producing 3.6 million ounces of silver at an average grade
of 352 g/t silver. It was purchased by MacPhersons in
September 2011 to fast-track the opportunity to process ore
from the company’s gold assets in Coolgardie, thanks to the
mine’s existing mill.
However, MacPhersons soon discovered the near-term
polymetallic production potential of the acquisition and
quickly established a silver target, and then exceeded it by
more than 200% in the first six months of drilling.
Silver has long been valued as a precious metal in
industry, jewellery, currency and investment. Importantly
for MacPhersons, the price of silver has been on the
increase, reaching more than $35 per ounce in 2012.
The models for the initial development have the cost of
production at just $9 per ounce.
MacPhersons is on the road to production. 2013 will
also see the commissioning of a new 480,000 tonnes
per annum Merrill Crowe silver-gold processing plant
at Nimbus, along with pit cutbacks and tailings processing.
The new plant is a 300% expansion on the existing
plant capacity.
According to MacPhersons, Nimbus will be producing
Australia’s highest grade silver by the end of 2013.
Left: Big plans. Aerial view of
the Nimbus silver mine
Below: Local knowledge. Operations
Manager Ron Ellis with legendary
prospector Bill Powell at the Nimbus site
Bottom left: Historic production.
Silver bars produced at Nimbus
What we have at
MacPhersons is not
only a great asset,
but a good group
of people who
are committed to
seeing it succeed.
MINESITE 2012
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85