Gold production in Western Australia's goldfields region has got off to a weak start for the year. Source: AAP
GOLD production in Western Australia's goldfields region has got off to a weak start for the year, with wet weather wreaking havoc at several mines.
Output dropped seven per cent to 68 tonnes between the March and December quarters as intense storm systems dumped rain on large areas of the state, Melbourne-based gold mining consultants Surbiton Associates said in a report.
On an annual basis, the amount of gold produced was up eight per cent.
During the March quarter, the Regis Resources Duketon Gold Project, near Laverton, was badly affected as 4.7 million tonnes of water flooded the Garden Well open pit to a depth of 45 metres.
Meanwhile, Norton Gold Fields' Paddington operations near Kalgoorlie reported 278 millimetres of rain during the quarter - more than double the region's average annual rainfall.
Surbiton Associates director Sandra Close said gold production was often affected by rain early in the year, as tropical cyclones sweep in from the Timor Sea.
"Wet weather forced many mines to cut ore production and restrict ore haulage in the March quarter," Dr Close said.
"This meant they had to rely on lower-grade, stockpiled material part of the time to keep their treatment plants running near capacity."
She said the grade of ore fell by around six per cent overall.
Despite the fall in output, some new capacity helped boost production as the Tropicana project reached full capacity and the new Mungari treatment plant near Kalgoorlie was commissioned.
US mining giant Newmont's two WA operations - Boddington mine and the Kalgoorlie Superpit joint venture - produced the most gold, followed by Newcrest's Cadia East/Ridgeway operation in NSW and its Telfer mine in central WA.
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