Crater mine waiting for clearence

THE Crater Mountain gold mine is awaiting final site inspection by the chief inspector of mines to assess the site for recommencement for underground operations.
Crater is hoping to schedule that inspection in the next few weeks.
According to a statement released by the company, during the December quarter of 2017, preparations for the restart of mining operations at the high-grade zone project in Eastern Highlands progressed well.
Preparations involved developing a revised mine plan for approval; reissue of several operational permits which had lapsed during the period of care and maintenance, and human resources activities; including the re-hiring of past and new employees; and the associated occupational health and safety induction activities.
The project is located approximately 50km south-west of Goroka.
It comprises three contiguous exploration licences, straddling the border between the Chimbu and Eastern Highland.
The western portion of this zone encompasses the world class mining operations of Porgera, OK Tedi, Wafi-Golpu and Grasberg.
The company owns 100 per cent of the Crater Mountain project.
Crater Mountain has been actively explored for over 30 years, initially by Kennecott and CRA for copper porphyry mineralisation and in the 1980s by Esso, City Resources and Highlands Gold for epithermal gold mineralisation. These efforts identified four prospect areas – Nevera, Nimi, Awanita and Masi.
Although anomalous base and precious metals values have been discovered at all the mentioned prospects, Nevera is by far the most advanced prospect.