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ocus Minerals is a rapidly expanding gold
producer which, since first production in 2008,
has been steadily building a profitable mining
and exploration business in the heart of Western
Australia’s historic Eastern Goldfields.
The company has embarked on what must be one of the most
aggressive expansion programs in the goldfields at present, and
is targeting a production run rate of 200,000 ounces in calendar
2012, having opened two new mines in the first half of 2011
and initiated a friendly takeover of Laverton gold producer,
Crescent Gold.
Over the past three years, the Focus management team has
built a strong reputation for its development and mine operation
capabilities, having recommissioned its Three Mile Hill processing
plant at the end of 2009 and grown its Tindals Mining Centre
underground operation to consistently deliver at around 55,000
ounces per annum.
With the opening this year of new open pit operations at
the Tindals Mining Centre, and new underground operations at
the Mount, 85 kilometres to the south, Focus is continuing to
transform its business.
“We now have three operating gold mines all in close proximity
to our 1.2 million tonnes per annum (Mtpa) Three Mile Hill
Focus’ ongoing growth
processing plant in Coolgardie,” said Focus’ Chief Executive
Campbell Baird. “This has us on a good footing with the potential
for strong cash generation, a solid balance sheet and reducing
cash costs.”
At the time of writing, Focus has the majority control of
Crescent Gold. With Crescent having produced in excess of
130,000 ounces of gold and 20,000 ounces of silver in the last
18 months, this bold acquisition is set to double production for
Focus to over 200,000 ounces, as well as doubling its resources to
4.3 million ounces.
“Crescent holds over 1,400 square kilometres of highly
prospective tenements in a world recognised and well-endowed
mineralised geological domain which includes numerous
large scale gold camps including Wallaby and Sunrise Dam,”
said Mr Baird.
“We see significant
scope for it to sustain
strong production whilst
managing operating costs,
which is where the proven
operational expertise of
our management team will
come into play.”
On the exploration
front, Mr Baird said he
sees significant upside
at Crescent where very
tight operating budgets
have prevented Crescent
undertaking
significant
exploration
drilling,
instead focusing on near-
mine development.
“There’s huge potential
through the Chatterbox
Shear Zone that runs
right through the heart
of Crescent’s operations.
This will be one of the first
areas we focus on.”
And exploration is something that Focus has been aggressive
with in 2011. It currently has eight drill rigs in operation across
four major project areas, which includes its newly discovered
gold camp at the Treasure Island gold project that sits at the
bottom of the Boulder-Lefroy fault near St Ives in Kambalda,
Western Australia.
“We are only 20 or so holes into our initial program at Treasure
Island but it is very clear we are dealing with an extensive
mineralised system of a style that is very similar to that seen at
St Ives,” said Mr Baird.
With strong exploration upside across a range of projects and
a solid pipeline of production, Focus is very well positioned to
continue its strong growth trajectory in 2012 and beyond.
CAMPBELL BAIRD
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
FOCUS MINERALS LTD
SHARPENED VISION
F
THREE MILE HILL MILL IN COOLGARDIE
MINESITE 2011
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