Riversgold has reported positive technical results from key environmental and engineering studies supporting mining permit applications for its Northern Zone Gold Project near Kalgoorlie, Western Australia. The findings support the preparation of the project’s Mine Development and Closure Plan (MDCP) and Native Vegetation Clearing Permit (NVCP), with both applications progressing towards submission.
Riversgold has received completed technical reports covering geotechnical, hydrology, hydrogeology, soil and waste characterisation for the proposed Northern Zone open pit operation, located 25 kilometres east of Kalgoorlie.
The studies form part of the work being undertaken by ResourcesWA to prepare the project’s Mine Development and Closure Plan and Native Vegetation Clearing Permit applications.
According to the company, the reports identified no material issues that would affect the proposed mining operation.
Geotechnical investigations concluded that the proposed waste dump and open pit designs meet the required stability criteria.
The waste dump design demonstrated high factors of safety and a very low probability of failure, while pit slope assessments confirmed factors of safety greater than 1.33 at both bench and overall inter-ramp scales.
Riversgold said the proposed pit configuration is considered geotechnically stable under current site conditions.
Hydrology and hydrogeology studies found the average groundwater table to be approximately 37 metres below the surface, with low permeability across the project area.
The company said groundwater inflows are unlikely to present a material operational or geotechnical risk to the proposed mine.
Flood modelling is continuing, with preliminary work indicating that only minor culvert infrastructure may be required along access routes.
Soil and waste characterisation studies concluded that waste rock is predominantly non-acid forming and has substantial acid-neutralising capacity.
According to Riversgold, the combination of low sulphur content and elevated pH values indicates a low potential for long-term acid generation, resulting in minimal risk of acid mine drainage.
The review of geological drillhole data also found no mineralogical or alteration features associated with fibrous minerals, indicating a low likelihood of fibrous material occurring within the project area.
Riversgold said preparation of the Native Vegetation Clearing Permit application is in its final stages and is expected to be submitted in the coming weeks following the incorporation of minor outstanding inputs.
The Mine Development and Closure Plan is approximately 60 per cent complete and remains on schedule for submission to the Western Australian Department of Mines, Petroleum and Exploration (DMPE).
“To have these final reports back on soils, geotechnical and water studies for our Kalgoorlie Gold Project, showing no material issues is a great result. We continue to tick the boxes necessary for the submission of the NVCP and MDCP, which will then provide the operating permit for the start of mining operations,” said Edward Mead, Technical Director of Riversgold.
“We continue to get much closer to breaking ground at Northern Zone, and I look forward to updating shareholders on progress as we move forward.”
