Spartan Resources Secures Approvals to Commence Underground Mining at Dalgaranga Gold Project

Spartan Resources has obtained all required regulatory approvals to begin underground mining and processing operations at its Dalgaranga gold project in Western Australia.

Approvals from the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DEMIRS) and the Department of Water and Environment Regulation (DWER) mark a pivotal milestone in redeveloping the high-grade gold operation.

These clearances allow Spartan to transition from the development phase to full-scale mining and production of underground ores, following the completion of the Juniper exploration drill drive decline.

The green light has also been given for upgrades to the process plant, including the installation of a ball mill, pre-leach thickener, and a paste plant. The paste plant will utilize recovered tailings as backfill to support underground mining, improving ore recovery at each level.

Further approvals cover the re-mining of tailings from the Gilbey’s tailings storage facility (TSF) and the dewatering of the disused Gilbey’s open pit. Additionally, the Golden Wings in-pit TSF, with approximately 23 million cubic metres of remaining capacity, remains operational under existing permits.

Spartan’s interim executive chair, Simon Lawson, expressed gratitude for the streamlined regulatory process. “We thank the regulatory agencies for their efficient and pragmatic oversight during the pre-submission consultation, enabling a smooth and timely approval process,” Lawson said.

He praised the efforts of Spartan’s in-house approvals and development team, alongside technical consultants, for demonstrating the project’s low environmental risk.

“The key parameters of the Dalgaranga project are well understood and managed, enabling us to confidently restart operations based on the high-grade Never Never and Pepper underground gold deposits,” Lawson added.

With the final approvals in place, Spartan is poised to advance the Dalgaranga project toward production, creating jobs and boosting local communities in the Murchison region of Western Australia.