Auric Mining has bought a major package of second-hand processing equipment for its Burbanks gold project in Western Australia for $1.2 million, securing key infrastructure at a fraction of the estimated $15 million to $20 million replacement cost.
The acquisition is intended to support the planned 600,000-tonne-a-year carbon-in-leach processing plant at Burbanks, nine kilometres south of Coolgardie. Auric said the equipment would help lock in the capital requirements and development timetable outlined in its recent scoping study.
The package, sourced from a closed mine in New South Wales, includes a complete three-stage crushing circuit, a fine ore bin, conveyors, screening and material-handling equipment, as well as a milling structure and associated infrastructure.
It also comes with spare parts and consumables, two complete spare cone crushers and a complete spare jaw crusher. Auric said the additional equipment would strengthen the plant’s operational reliability while helping to reduce future capital and operating costs.
Specialist contractor Interquip is due to start dismantling and relocating the plant in the fourth quarter of this year. The equipment is expected to arrive at Burbanks during the first quarter of 2027, with reconstruction to follow and a restart of processing targeted for the first quarter of 2028.
Mark English, Auric’s managing director, said: “For $1.2 million we’ve secured a substantial package of fixed plant infrastructure for the Burbanks rebuild at a significant discount to replacement cost. Importantly, it gives Auric immediate access to high-quality, critical crushing infrastructure and locks in both capital estimates and the development timeline used in our study.”
The equipment is suited to the initial Burbanks design but could also provide a foundation for a potential expansion to 1.2 million tonnes a year, according to Auric.
The company is funding its wider development plans from operations at its Munda gold mine starter pit near Widgiemooltha. Auric reported $44.8 million in revenue, net operating cash flow of $33.8 million and a net profit before tax of $28 million for the six months to June.
Its strategy also includes the Union Jack gold project, acquired recently and located about 15 kilometres by road from Burbanks. The deal increased Auric’s global gold resource inventory by 51% to 301,000 ounces and could provide an additional ore source for the planned processing hub.
