Vertex Minerals targets production leap at Reward gold mine - Mining.com.au

AI desk brief

Vertex Minerals is targeting a sharp production ramp at its Reward gold mine in NSW after securing 24/7 mining approvals and upgrading metallurgy. The company poured two gold bars this month, including a maiden bar near 1kg, and is guiding to 100oz in October versus 44oz in September, rising to 150oz in November and 500oz in December.

Operationally, the mine is moving from restricted hours to 12 hours/day underground, with a plan to extend to 24 hours, while a spiral wheel upgrade should lift concentrate grade from roughly 30% gold and potentially allow on-site smelting if recovery exceeds 50%. Vertex also says narrower tunnel drilling is reducing dilution by more than 20%, supporting higher recovered grades and output.