Ora Banda Mining (ASX:OBM) said the first ore from its Sand King Underground gold mine in Western Australia was processed at the Davyhurst plant, with the reconciled grade 4.3% above expectations, according to a Friday Australian bourse filing.
The mine remains on track to reach its steady state production rate in June.
All critical mining infrastructure projects at the mine are complete with the primary ventilation system and mine escapeway systems now commissioned.
Infill drilling largely confirmed the grade and volume potential of the main ore structures and identified newly defined additional discrete ore lodes.
Early-grade control drilling indicates a 19% uplift in gold ounce endowment at the Sand King deposit.