The Challenger Gold Mine has successfully met all its mining and processing targets to date, with operating costs since first production in 2002 averaging $357 per ounce. A summary of production statistics for the Challenger Mine for the past three financial years is shown below:

Challenger Production Statistics 

  2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09
Tonnes mined (tonnes) 387,585 383,349 449,527 430,798
Ore Processed (tonnes) 375,955 373,924 432,895 434,087
Head Grade (g/t) 9.52 9.66 8.35 7.54
Recovery (%) 94.3 93.4 93.8 94.0
Gold Produced (ozs) 108,080 108,191 109,326 98,755
Cash Operating Cost (per tonne) $80.64 $89.30 $92.70 $99.65
Cash Operating Cost(per oz) $280 $309 $367 $438

2005/06 was the first full year of underground production at Challenger, which saw the operation exceeding all targets with the pace of both development and production from stoping surpassing budgets in terms of tonnes and grades delivered.

From the start of production in October 2002, a total of 566,635 ounces of gold had been recovered by 30 June 2009 at an average operating cost of $357 per ounce. This was achieved from processing a total of 2,827,771 tonnes of ore.

 

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