Ann: RC drilling commences at Lake Austin North, Cue, page-20

The West Australian today
Australia’s gold production is tipped to slump to a “generational low” by 2022 despite it being on track for a 26-year high of 10.2 million ounces next year.
S&P Global Market Intelligence attributed the rapidly slowing production to short mine lives of recent start-ups and other significant mines approaching the end of their lives.
“We are forecasting a 9 per cent fall year-over-year in 2020 and we expect the country’s production to reach a generational low of 6.8Moz by 2022, a 33 per cent drop within only three years,” S&P analyst Chris Galbraith said.
“Australia’s projected attrition stems from the short mine lives of the recent start-ups and some significant mines approaching the end of their life, such as Agnew/Lawlers and St Ives.
“Many smaller mines are also expected to start winding down, such as Cracow, Mungari, South Kalgoorlie and Paulsens. With all the turbulence in emerging markets, gold is in the midst of its worst run this year. The precious metal has tumbled amid growing trade tensions, rising rates and a strengthening dollar.
The prediction comes as a trio of Aussie gold miners yesterday reported stellar full-year results from their respective operations.
Saracen Mineral Holdings posted a 100 per cent surge in underlying profit to $67.3 million on the back of a 16 per cent rise in production to a record 316,453oz.
The Raleigh Finlayson-led miner said it would more than triple its exploration budget from $17 million last year to $60 million over the next five years.
St Barbara announced underlying profit of $202 million, up 26 per cent on the previous year, after producing a record 403,089oz in the period at record low all-in sustaining costs of $891/oz.
The Bob Vassie-headed company declared a final dividend of 8¢ a share fully franked, up from 6¢ last year.
Silver Lake Resources posted a net profit of $16.2 million, up from $2 million the previous year. The result was achieved on the back of a 16 per cent increase in gold production to 157,936oz and a 5 per cent reduction in all-in sustaining costs to $1289/oz.
Newcrest Mining’s underlying profit rose 16 per cent to $US459 million. Australia’s biggest gold miner declared a final fully franked dividend of US11¢, up from a partially franked US7.5¢ the previous year