The company kicked off production at the mill earlier in the month and since then about 13,500t of low to medium-grade ore has been processed.

With metallurgical recoveries and concentrate grades edging closer to design rate parameters higher grade ore from the West 45 deposit is being blended into the mill feed, and first concentrate deliveries are expected in the coming weeks.

While the ramp up to 325,000tpa has been successful, the mill’s nameplate capacity is double that, at 650,000tpa, and Red River will look at filling the mill and increasing Thalanga’s mineral resource base by developing deposits across the greater project area to increase throughput and take full advantage of the high base metal prices.

Subsequently, resource and reserve updating work continues at the Thalanga Far West and West 45 deposits, with both the updated West 45 mineral resource and ore reserve estimate and the updated Thalanga Far West mineral resource and maiden ore reserve estimate expected to be finished next quarter.