ASX / MEDIA RELEASE 29 April 2008
FOCUS DELIVERS MAIDEN GOLD PRODUCTION AT
COOLGARDIE PROJECT, WESTERN AUSTRALIA
FIRST 6,000t OF ORE PRODUCES APPROXIMATELY 2,000 OUNCES
KEY POINTS
• Focus produces approximately 2,000 oz of gold from 6,000t at grades in excess of 10g/t Au in
first official gold pour in Coolgardie today
• Earlier pours this month have produced a further 1,000 ounces from previously stockpiled
ore, making a total of approximately 3,000 ounces produced to date
• Higher than expected grades auger well for future development of the Perseverance ore
body and surrounding areas
Australian-based gold and nickel company Focus Minerals Ltd (ASX: FML) is pleased to announce that it
has completed its first official gold pour, comprising approximately 2,000 ounces, from the
Perseverance Gold Deposit, part of its 100%-owned Coolgardie Gold Project in Western Australia.
The gold pour marks a significant achievement for Focus as it becomes Australia’s newest gold producer,
and also heralds the revival of the historic Coolgardie Gold Field which has produced over 2.6 million
ounces since 1892.
The official gold pour was attended in Coolgardie today by dignitaries including the Federal Member for
Kalgoorlie, Mr Barry Haase MP, the Member for Murchison-Eyre, Mr John Bowler MLA, community
leaders and members of the local and national media.
The gold produced was achieved from processing 6,000 tonnes of Perseverance ore at a grade in excess
of 10 g/t Au which compares favourably with the reserve grade for the deposit of 8.3g/t Au. It comes after
development of the Perseverance deposit commenced last month following a positive Bankable Feasibility
Study (BFS) completed last year.
The combination of today’s official gold pour in addition to previous pours totalling approximately 1,000
ounces - sourced from previously stockpiled ore - will make up the Company’s first gold shipment of
approximately 3,000 ounces. This effectively represents the Company’s first cashflow.
Commenting on the significant milestone, Focus Minerals’ Managing Director, Mr Peter Williams said:
“Today’s gold pour is a defining moment for Focus and I’d like to thank our valued shareholders, the local
Coolgardie and Kalgoorlie communities, our staff and contractors and everyone else who has supported us
along the way.”
Focus recently upgraded the Probable gold reserve at Perseverance to an estimated 287,000t @ 8.3 g/t/Au
Perth Office – Level 3, 105 St Georges Terrace, Perth, Western Australia 6000
P: 61 8 9215 7888 F: 61 8 9215 7889
W:
www.focusminerals.com.au E:
pwilliams@focusminerals.com.au
ACN 005 470 799
for a total of 76,000 ounces and early indications are that this figure will be improved upon based on the
grades already being produced, which are higher than initial estimations.
“The ore grades we’ve been receiving have been excellent but not entirely unexpected given the
conservative nature of our estimations,” said Mr Williams.
Mr Williams also said that while production was now Focus’ priority list, it was the delineation of
additional ore reserved that will ensure the long-term prosperity of Focus
“We are still very confident that there are significant high-grade deposits yet to be discovered on our
Coolgardie landholdings and that these deposits – along with our exciting nickel assets - will ensure th
long term prosperity of Focus,” he said.
ENDS