Vertex Minerals (ASX:VTX) said the stoping of the 1670 airleg stope at the Reward gold mine at the Hill End project in New South Wales is underway, while concentrates from gravity processing are being further concentrated before delivery to the gold refinery, according to a Wednesday Australian bourse filing.

The focus of the 1670 stope is low tonnage but high-grade ore. 125 tonnes were mined and processed in production over the last five days.

The beginning of drilling at the 1438 longhole stope began on Tuesday. The firm expects to blast this stope within the next two weeks. Stoping at the third mining front of the 1720 cut and fill stope is expected to begin in October.

The production ramp-up at the mine was delayed largely due to issues in the delivery and commissioning of high-voltage electrical equipment.