In Focus

** MAIDEN JORC ANNOUNCEMENT - CLICK THIS LINK:    JORC RESOURCE OF 910,000 OZS GOLD **

1. PILOT MINING PROGRAM ANNOUNCED FOR H2 2008 - CLICK HERE:  MAXWELLS PILOT MINING PROGRAM  

 

2. Bulk Samples Taken for Metallurgical Study - Pre-feasibility study on Plant undertaken Q1 2008

An initial program of three 100–150Kg composite samples to test Morning Star mine ore-grade material for ROM metallurgical recovery and grade factoring was processed in the 3rd Quarter 2007.

The bulk samples collected were representative of medium to high-grade laminated quartz vein ore and stock-work/breccia vein ore commonly found in the mine. The metallurgical testing has enabled Morning Star to better analyze the type, size and nature of gold distribution, along with the identification of suitable methods for recovery and anticipated gold recovery rates.

The results of the Bulk Metallurgical Tests have been outstanding.

1.     Gravity gold recovery was extremely encouraging (between 78% and 93% depending on the crush coarseness).

2.     At a coarse 250microns crush, Morning Star found that the bulk samples returned up to 88% gravity gold recoveries through the first crush with up to 98% total recoveries after a short period of leaching (8 hours) and greater than 99% recoveries after 24 hours.

3.    Head Grades from the samples were strong as expected. The grades obtained in the three bulk samples were between 17 grams per tonne and 35 grams per tonne. Samples were blended with lower grade material made up of sediments and dyke to give a more representative 'mining grade' sample  analysis.

One of the key aspects of the results to date, is that in any future planned mining operations, Morning Star feels confident that a mill and plant set to crush ore at 250microns rate would significantly reduce Capital and Operational Expenditures for the company and enable it to operate well under industry average gold production costs per tonne.

So encouragingly for MCO, not only are there rich remnant reefs as proven to date via the Channel and Reconnaissance sampling program, but gravity gold returns are very high, giving rise to a ability to produce gold cost effectively and environmentally sensitively too.

Composite balance representative ROM material from the Q4 2007 Bulk Sampling has been sent to Gekko Systems in Ballarat for pre-feasibility studies on underground gravity plant for location at the Morning Star mine. A graphical depiction of initial results is below:

3. ABC Documentary on 1939 'Black Friday' Bushfires:   

Click here for the ABC Doco on the 1939 bushfires that destroyed Woods Point.

4. View Expressed on the Gold Price by Pierre Lassonde at Diggers and Dealers 2007

Mr Lassonde's Viewpoint Aug 07 (0.87 Mb)