Classic Minerals Limited (ASX: CLZ) has announced significant progress in its scale-up strategy at the Forrestania Gold Project in Western Australia. Classic Minerals is focused on gold exploration and development, aiming to become a low-cost, regionally significant gold producer. The company has completed a design study for a 250,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) Carbon-in-Leach (CIL) gold processing plant and appointed IPS Global Pty Ltd as the preferred EPCM contractor for the plant’s development.
The 250ktpa CIL plant design study, prepared by Como Engineers Pty Ltd, confirms the viability of the staged development strategy using existing infrastructure and modular expansion components. The study estimates operating costs between $40–$50 per tonne (excluding mining) and anticipates a recovery rate of approximately 93% (gravity + CIL) based on regional ore types. A 500ktpa plant design study is also nearing completion, currently at 90% progress.
IPS Global, who previously assisted with the design and commissioning of Classic’s 80ktpa gravity plant, will oversee the procurement and installation of key components for the 250ktpa expansion. This includes a primary ball mill, classification screens, hydrocyclone cluster, Intensive Leach Reactor (ILR), and a full Carbon-in-Leach (CIL) circuit. Classic has also submitted a Dangerous Goods Licence (DGL) application to support operations.
Exploration activities at Forrestania have been temporarily deferred due to seasonal rainfall and access limitations. Legal proceedings are ongoing to secure full Hyden title transfers for the Forrestania tenements. Classic is focused on commencing near-term gold production from its Ladies Gold Project, with the planned CIL plant initially supported by ore from Lady Ada and Lady Magdalene, which contain a combined JORC 2012 Mineral Resource of 6.95 million tonnes at 1.33 g/t for 297,579 ounces of gold.
