Lion One Metals Hits Milestone: First Shrinkage Stope Yields 5,704 Tonnes of High-Grade Gold
Lion One Metals Limited has achieved a significant milestone at its Tuvatu Alkaline Gold Project in Fiji. The company has successfully mined 5,704 tonnes of material from its first watch stope, with an average grade of 10.60 g/t gold. This success has been driven by increased development rates and operational improvements.
From January to September 2025, Lion One Metals increased overall development at Tuvatu by approximately 70%. The company's CEO, Ian Berzins, attributed this success to new mining equipment and operational improvements. The rate of large capital development increased by 126%, and the rate of small development by 59% during this period.
The first watch stope production, which occurred mainly from July to September, was blended with material from other parts of the mine. The company expects these increased development rates to be sustainable and potentially further improved with the arrival of additional mining equipment.
Lion One Metals has modified underground vehicles and procured new equipment to support its mining operations. This includes modifying a Caterpillar IT28 utility vehicle, procuring an RES scissor lift, and recently procuring a third two-boom jumbo. The success of the first watch stope confirms watch mining as an optimal mining method for Tuvatu, a high-grade narrow-vein gold deposit.
Following the retirement of Patrick Hickey, the company's former COO, his duties will be assumed by CEO Ian Berzins. The new COO has not been identified in the provided search results. The company's second watch stope is now in development, expected to be twice as large as the first, with production anticipated to begin in November.
Lion One Metals' successful mining of the first watch stope at Tuvatu, coupled with increased development rates and operational improvements, signals a significant advancement for the company. With the second stope in development and additional mining equipment on the way, Lion One Metals is poised for further growth and production.
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