The company begins testing longhole open stoping at its New South Wales mine, targeting 8g/t gold grades from a 1,200-tonne stope.
Vertex Minerals has initiated its first mechanised longhole open stope trial at the Reward Gold Mine in Hill End, New South Wales. The trial aims to compare productivity and cost efficiency against traditional airleg stoping methods, focusing on the high-grade Mica 1 lens with an 8m airleg slot rise.
The stope, among Australia’s narrowest mechanised longhole operations, is projected to yield approximately eight grams per tonne gold from 1,200 tonnes. Previous airleg mining by Hill End Gold achieved consistent grades, and initial screening shows visible gold in high-grade quartz.
Delays due to poor ground conditions were addressed with rock bolting and grouting. A modified jumbo drill is in use, with a Resemin Muki rig expected by September 2026 to reduce dilution by over 20%.