Electra/Minerex start Nevada heap leach mine

Two more Vancouver companies have joined the list of heap leach gold producers in Nevada. Joint venture partners Electra North West Resources and Minerex Resources started gold pours in late October at their Aurora open pit mine, 28 miles west of Hawthorne, Nev.

Minerex, as operator, started construction in June, at a cost of $5.1 million(US). So far, more than 1,750 oz gold have been poured and about 4,000 oz is expected to be produced by year-end. The mining plan calls for continuous operation throughout the winter months, with annual production forecast to exceed 20,000 oz gold and more than 20,000 oz silver.

Reserves in the Humboldt vein are estimated at two million tons grading 0.12 oz gold per ton, giving an estimated mine life of six to seven years. The reserves are open to depth along the strike length.