AngloGold Ashanti reports the resource estimate for the Tropicana gold project 330 km east-northeast of Kalgoorlie, Western Australia has increased by 1.05 million oz to 6.41 million oz of contained gold in 88.3 million mt grading 2.26 g/mt gold.
The gold resource includes 1.95 million oz measured, 3.25 million oz indicated and 1.21 million oz inferred. The open-pit ore reserve at Tropicana as of late November 2011 remained unchanged at 3.91 million oz of contained gold, as announced July 27, 2011.
The growth in the Tropicana resource primarily reflects additional drilling completed as part of the Havana Deeps prefeasibility study, which is focused on the down plunge extents of the Havana orebody below the Havana open-pit. The underground mineral resource has grown by 1 million oz as a result of this drilling. The prefeasibility study, which is due for completion in late 2012, will examine the trade-off between open-pit and underground mining of the Havana Deeps deposit. Potential exists for a portion of the current Havana Deeps underground mineral resource to be mined via a large open-pit cutback on the Havana pit.
The Tropicana project is part of the Tropicana Joint Venture, which is owned by AngloGold Ashanti Australia (70% and manager) and Independence Group NL (30%). (www.anglogold.co.za)
