Galantas begins underground development at Omagh

Galantas Gold Corporation announced on Monday that underground development had commenced on the Omagh gold property, County Tyrone, Northern Ireland.

The AIM-traded firm said initial works were for the formation of a portal initial tunnel entry area in the western side wall at the base of the Kearney open pit.

When the portal works are completed, the underground development would continue in order to access ore beneath a crown pillar retained in the base of the open pit.

It was expected that ore zones were likely to be reached within 6 months.

The board said the works commenced using the underground mining equipment purchased last year by the company's Northern Ireland operating subsidiary.

“This is an important milestone in the development of the Omagh underground gold mine,” said president and CEO Roland Phelps.

“We are pressing ahead with mine development, in accordance with our planning permission.

“We await a judgement on the judicial review of that permission, for which no date has yet been advised to us.”

Phelps said so far, the company had boosted our local workforce to 17, including some former colleagues, who were previously laid off during planning delays.