• Accelerated path to copper revenue with first copper concentrate production from underground mining achieved a quarter ahead of schedule
• High-quality, saleable concentrate produced (+20% Cu) with strong recoveries (88% Cu, 74% Au), demonstrating robust processing performance
• Underground restart de-risked, with successful underground ore mining and plant optimisation ahead of full-scale production

Kingston Resources Ltd has announced the successful completion of a processing plant trial on an initial 6,000 tonnes of low-grade copper and gold ore at its Mineral Hill mine. Following the closure of underground operations in 2015, the company has now recommenced underground development at Mineral Hill, achieving two key milestones: the restart of underground mining and the processing of underground copper ore through the Mineral Hill plant. The successful trial has enabled copper sales to commence a quarter earlier than scheduled. The key objectives of the trial included familiarising and training plant operators in base metal concentrates, optimising the plant flow chart before full underground ore processing, reagent testing and trials, identifying process improvements and adjustments, collecting concentrate samples for offtake discussions, and producing a saleable copper and gold concentrate. The trial has delivered important benefits, including optimisation of the flow sheet and reagent scheme, and the production of a high-quality, saleable copper concentrate (+20% Cu) with strong recoveries (88% Cu, 74% Au), demonstrating robust processing performance. The underground restart has also been de-risked, with successful underground ore mining and plant optimisation ahead of full-scale production. This positions Mineral Hill to evolve into a multi-commodity (gold, silver, and now copper) producer, improving revenue diversification and benefiting from the strong copper fundamentals and favourable long-term demand outlook.

Following the trial, the plant will revert to processing open pit ore through to August/September. This provides the underground team with the time required to continue development and ramp up toward long hole stoping, which is expected to commence later this quarter.