Kingsgate Consolidated (ASX:KCN) said mining activities began to establish the new Q pit at the Chatree gold mine in Thailand, with production drilling commencing, according to a Tuesday Australian bourse filing.

It completed the first controlled blast within the Q pit development area and progressed drill pad construction, traffic management systems, and blast clearance infrastructure.

Geotechnical studies, as well as detailed engineering and pit wall design to optimize the final mining configuration, are also underway.

Its shares fell 1% in recent trading on Tuesday.