Edna May Gold Mine
Encyclopedia
The Edna May Gold Mine is a gold mine
located at Westonia
, Western Australia
.
It is operated by Catalpa Resources. The mine, planned to be in full production by the end of July 2010, is scheduled to produce in excess of 100,000 ounces of gold per annum. Historically, the Westonia region has produced 600,000 ounces of gold between 1911 and 1991.
The Edna May project was acquired by Catalpa in July 1993, when it was purchased from ACM Gold Pty Ltd. Catalpa, then as Westonia Mines Limited, was first listed on the Australian Securities Exchange
, the ASX, on 20 August 2002. It changed its name to Catalpa Resources Limited on 3 September 2008. The company was renamed after the ship Catalpa
, which rescued Fenian
convicts of the coast of Rockingham
in 1876.
Catalpa purchased the processing facility of the former Big Bell Gold Mine
and relocated it to its site near Westonia in 2007 for a cost of A$5.2 million. It began refurbishing and constructing the plant in March 2009, aiming for a production start in mid-2010 and an annual production in excess of 100,000 ounces of gold. Construction cost of the mining project was estimated to be A$ 92 million. The company announced its first gold pour at the mine on 29 April 2010. Unlike many other mining projects in Western Australia, which utilise a fly-in fly-out workforce, Catalpa hoped to initially recruit up to 30% of its workers from local communities and planned to eventually increase this number to 50%, which it had achieved by the time of its opening in August 2010.
Catalpa commenced a three month ramp-up phase at the mine in May 2010, with full production scheduled to be achieved by 31 July 2010.
The mine was officially opened on 1 August 2010 by Western Australian Premier
Colin Barnett
and Petroleum Minister Norman Moore. It is expected that the mine will be in operation for at least nine years and produce 100,000 ounces of gold per annum.
Gold mining
Gold mining is the removal of gold from the ground. There are several techniques and processes by which gold may be extracted from the earth.-History:...
located at Westonia
Westonia, Western Australia
Westonia is a small town located in the Eastern Wheatbelt region of Western Australia, 10 kilometres north of the Great Eastern Highway. It is the main town in the Shire of Westonia.-History:...
, Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
.
It is operated by Catalpa Resources. The mine, planned to be in full production by the end of July 2010, is scheduled to produce in excess of 100,000 ounces of gold per annum. Historically, the Westonia region has produced 600,000 ounces of gold between 1911 and 1991.
History
Mining at Westonia has been carried out on three separate occasions since 1911. From 1911 to 1922, an underground operation produced 320,000 ounces of gold. In a second phase, from 1935 to 1947, 40,000 ounces were produced, again from an underground operation. The third phase, now as an open cut, run from 1986 to 1991 and produced 274,000 ounces of gold.The Edna May project was acquired by Catalpa in July 1993, when it was purchased from ACM Gold Pty Ltd. Catalpa, then as Westonia Mines Limited, was first listed on the Australian Securities Exchange
Australian Securities Exchange
The Australian Securities Exchange was created by the merger of the Australian Stock Exchange and the Sydney Futures Exchange in July 2006. It is the primary stock exchange group in Australia....
, the ASX, on 20 August 2002. It changed its name to Catalpa Resources Limited on 3 September 2008. The company was renamed after the ship Catalpa
Catalpa rescue
The Catalpa rescue was the escape, in 1876, of six Irish Fenian prisoners from what was then the British penal colony of Western Australia.-Fenians and plans to escape:...
, which rescued Fenian
Fenian
The Fenians , both the Fenian Brotherhood and Irish Republican Brotherhood , were fraternal organisations dedicated to the establishment of an independent Irish Republic in the 19th and early 20th century. The name "Fenians" was first applied by John O'Mahony to the members of the Irish republican...
convicts of the coast of Rockingham
Rockingham, Western Australia
Rockingham is a suburb and primary centre in Western Australia south-west of the Perth city centre and south of Fremantle. It has a beachside location at Mangles Bay, the southern extremity of Cockburn Sound. To its north stretches the maritime and resource-industry installations of Kwinana and...
in 1876.
Catalpa purchased the processing facility of the former Big Bell Gold Mine
Big Bell Gold Mine
The Big Bell Gold Mine is a gold mine located at Big Bell, 24 km north-west of Cue, Western Australia. The mine was owned and operated by Harmony Gold at the time of its closure in June 2003, having produced 2.6 million ounces of gold during its lifetime, but was sold to Aragon Resources...
and relocated it to its site near Westonia in 2007 for a cost of A$5.2 million. It began refurbishing and constructing the plant in March 2009, aiming for a production start in mid-2010 and an annual production in excess of 100,000 ounces of gold. Construction cost of the mining project was estimated to be A$ 92 million. The company announced its first gold pour at the mine on 29 April 2010. Unlike many other mining projects in Western Australia, which utilise a fly-in fly-out workforce, Catalpa hoped to initially recruit up to 30% of its workers from local communities and planned to eventually increase this number to 50%, which it had achieved by the time of its opening in August 2010.
Catalpa commenced a three month ramp-up phase at the mine in May 2010, with full production scheduled to be achieved by 31 July 2010.
The mine was officially opened on 1 August 2010 by Western Australian Premier
Premier of Western Australia
The Premier of Western Australia is the head of the executive government in the Australian State of Western Australia. The Premier has similar functions in Western Australia to those performed by the Prime Minister of Australia at the national level, subject to the different Constitutions...
Colin Barnett
Colin Barnett
Colin James Barnett , Australian politician, is the leader of the Western Australian Liberal Party, the 29th and current Premier of Western Australia since the 2008 election and served as the Treasurer of Western Australia in 2010. He was sworn into office by Governor Ken Michael on 23 September 2008...
and Petroleum Minister Norman Moore. It is expected that the mine will be in operation for at least nine years and produce 100,000 ounces of gold per annum.