West Wits: Airstrip at Derewo gold project completed, focus on trial mining
Monday, October 14 2013 - 04:48 AM WIB
ASX-listed West Wits Mining Limited said that two pilots from a regional airline have inspected the airstrip which has been constructed at the Derewo River Gold Project, in Papua Province.
The conclusion from the inspection was that, subject to some minor works, the airstrip was ready to begin receiving light fixed wing aircraft, the company said in a statement obtained Monday. The company is currently undertaking final works such as installation of wind socks as well minor widening of one section of the airstrip. It is expected the airstrip will be capable of receiving aircraft later this week.
The excavator will shortly be moved from the airstrip to the 81 creek where initial trial mining activities are planned. Whilst the excavator is being moved it will also install a number of culverts on the access road to further improve its drainage. It is the company?s intention that the excavator will be operating in the creek this week to prepare the site for trial mining activities.
Over the last two weeks, fabrication of sluice boxes has been undertaken in Nabire, West Wits said. Prior to receiving the concentrator on order from Malaysia, the company will undertake trial mining activities using a conventional alluvial recovery circuit. This equipment is being broken down into sections and weighed for transport. It is expected the boxes will commence being flown in by helicopter tomorrow, the company said.
West Wits currently owns a 50 percent interest in the alluvial gold project and 50 percent of the exploration rights for the hard rock source of the alluvial, which will increase to 80 percent on $2 million being spent on exploration.
The Derewo River Gold Project is owned through its local Indonesian subsidiary PT Madinah Qurrata'ain (PTMQ) with local partner the Suhari family of Makassar. The project consists of one granted 40ha mining license, an application for a further 491ha mining license, a granted exploration license of 86,000ha, and two further exploration applications encompassing 43,000ha.
Editing by Reiner Simanjuntak