Regis rockfall knocks gold guidance

A rockfall event of approximately 800 tonnes occurred on January 17 following heavy rains at Rosemont, 130 kilometres north of Laverton, during which no one was injured or at risk of injury.

The pit was nearing its final stages of development and was due for completion by the middle of 2022.

At Duketon, the company is now aiming to produce between 300,000 and 340,000 ounces of gold for the 2022 financial year. Previous targets were between 340,000 and 380,000 ounces.

This has impacted the company’s overall production target which is now down between 420,000 and 475,000 ounces.

Further unplanned geotechnical issues had been reported in October 2021 at the Rosemont North and main pits, but the company deemed them adequately controlled in its September quarter report.

Following the rockfall, the company stated that geotechnical protocols and controls had been in place to manage the narrow bottom of the near-complete pit, but it wasn’t enough to hold off the rain.

As the heavy rainfall occurred, Regis initiated standard evacuation procedures and monitored the situation until the rockfall the following day.

“The company’s principal geotechnical engineer attended the site and with the on-site operations personnel undertook an assessment of the geotechnical and safety hazards, and the potential risks of continued mining,” the company stated.

“Once it became clear that continuing was considered unsafe, the decision was made to permanently stop all activity in Rosemont main pit.

“At that point, the impact on production for FY22 was unclear and so the decision was made to request a trading halt.”

Work is now underway to recover the fallen material.