The Daisy Milano Gold Mine is a gold mine located 50 km south east of Kalgoorlie at Mount Monger Station, Western Australia.
It is currently owned by Silver Lake Resources, who reopened the mine in December 2007.
History
While in relatively close proximity to Kalgoorlie, the Mount Monger goldfield had seen no systematic exploration approach in the past. Mining had been carried out in the area from the early 1900s, mostly by small mining companies, gold having been found there in 1896.Mount Monger Gold Project Integra Mining website, accessed: 6 September 2009 Approximately 400,000 ounces have been mined in the Mount Monger area, with old workings in the area reaching a depth of 80 metres.Silver Lake website - Mount Monger accessed: 6 September 2009
The current Daisy Milano mine has been in operation since 1990. Originally it was an underground operation, with a shaft haulage system, but, under the ownership of Ridgeview Nominees, a decline was established in 2001.The Australian Mines Handbook: 2003-2004 Edition, page: 113 In May 2002, an underground miner was killed at the facility, having been found unconscious on an underground access road, next to an open electrical switch box.Print Inquiry continues into miner's death ABC News, published: 31 May 2002, accessed: 8 September 2009
The mine was placed in care and maintenance in March 2007 by owner Perilya, with the intention of selling it.Silver Lake Brings Daisy Milano Back Into Production Silver Lake published: 10 December 2007, accessed: 6 September 2009SUSPENSION OF DAISY MILANO EXTRACTIVE OPERATIONS Perilya 8 March 2007 Perilya itself had purchased the operations in January 2005 for $3.2 million,[\https://web.archive.org/web/20180315153653/http://www.perilya.com.au/about-us/history History] Perilya but suffered from a lack of own production facilities, having to cart its ore long distances to other company's plants, such as Harmony's Jubilee or Coolgardie, 100 km away from the mine.New mining approaches lead to success The Australian Mining Review, accessed: 6 September 2009
Silver Lake, formed in 2004 and listed at the Australian Securities Exchange in 2007,Silver Lake website - Company overview accessed: 6 September 2009 acquired Daisy Milano in November 2007 for $14.5 million from Perilya.Silver Lake quarterly report December 2007 accessed: 6 September 2009Completed Sale of Gold Assets Perilya Limited ASX announcement, published: 14 November 2007, accessed: 6 September 2009
Mining at Daisy Milano resumed in December 2007 and the first gold pour was carried out in April 2008.Daisy Milano HWE Mining In the June quarter of 2009, Silver Lake also carried out open pit mining 1 km north of the underground operation, at Christmas Flat.Silver Lake quarterly report June 2009 accessed: 6 September 2009 Daisy Milano's ore was processed in the Silver Lake-owned Lakewood gold processing facility, which is located 5 km south east of Kalgoorlie and capable of processing 300,000 tonnes per annum.Silver Lake website - Daisy Milano operation accessed: 6 September 2009 Silver Lake purchased the facility in November 2007 for $2.4 million.Silver Lake website - Key facts accessed: 6 September 2009
On 10 June 2021, Paul Tamati Ereka Martin died after becoming unconscious at the Daisy Milano underground operation.
Daisy Milano is now the western-most of four operations which are part of Silver Lake's Mount Monger operation, with all ore being processed at the company's Randalls Gold Processing Facility, located at the Randalls Gold Mine. Apart from the Daisy Milano underground operation, ore is also sourced from Mount Belches underground and Aldiss open pit operations.
Production
Annual production of the mine:Perilya quarterly report June 2005 accessed: 6 September 2009Perilya quarterly report June 2007 accessed: 6 September 2009Silver Lake quarterly report June 2010 published: 30 July 2010, accessed: 30 July 2010 Year Production Grade Cost per ounce 2000 5,551 ounces 7.1 g/t US$201 2001 6,468 ounces 6.0 g/t US$234 2004–05 4,827 ounces 7.96 g/t 2005–06 25,573 ounces 7.5 g/t A$596 2006–07 24,779 ounces 8.8 g/t A$590 2007–08 5,808 ounces 10.2 g/t A$ 2008–09 49,272 ounces 9.4 g/t A$780 2009–10 66,671 ounces 6.1 g/t 2010–11 2011–12 2012–13 2013–14 2014–15 2015–16 2016–17 2017–18 2018–19 2019–20 2020–21 46,792 ounces 5.7 g/t 2021–22 39,573 ounces 5.1 g/t 2022–23 95,559 ounces 2.6 g/t
Notes
Production figure is for the combined Mount Monger Operations, which consist of the Daisy Milano and Mount Belches underground and Aldiss open pit operations.
References
Bibliography
External links
MINEDEX website: Daisy - Milano Database of the Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation & Safety