Barton Gold Holdings (ASX:BGD) said it engaged the ERIAS Group to prepare an environmental scoping report, the first step in the environmental and mining lease approvals process for the Tunkillia gold project in South Australia, according to a Thursday Australian bourse filing.
The firm advanced its long-lead feasibility work programs for its project after the publication of an optimised scoping study, which identified a compelling large-scale operation with total payable metal of 942,000 ounces of gold and around 2 million ounces of silver, as well as an average annual production of around 120,000 ounces of gold and around 250,000 ounces of silver.
The study also included a starter pit producing around 206,000 ounces of gold for AU$825 million operating free cash in the first 13 months.
Barton Gold's shares jumped 9% in recent trading on Thursday.