Southern Cross

Southern Cross Operations

St Barbara’s Southern Cross operations are centred at Marvel Loch, 30km south of the town of Southern Cross and 360km east of Perth, Western Australia. Current operations are based at the Marvel Loch underground mine, with ore also coming from surrounding satellite deposits. Southern Cross Operations produced 157,477 ounces of gold for the 2008 financial year, meeting forecast production. The immediate strategic focus is to sustain and extend the life of the Southern Cross Operations through expansion of underground and open pit reserves.

The aim at Southern Cross is the development of deposits to deliver a feed grade greater than 3.5 grams per tonne. Underground deposits greater than 3.5 grams per tonne and open pit deposits of greater than 2.5 grams per tonne are currently being targeted.

Marvel Loch Underground

The Marvel Loch underground mine is the cornerstone of Barbara’s Southern Cross operations. Gold mineralisation extends over a 1.3km strike length and has been identified to depths of over 700 metres below surface. The ore body comprises multiple lodes. Those currently being mined include Sherwood and Undaunted at the North; Exhibition at the centre; and East and New at the South. Mining methods include uphole benching and open stoping with rock fill, where necessary.

Ore production from Marvel Loch underground mine for the 2008 financial year was 900,000 tonnes at an average grade of 3.7g/t.

Capital expenditure for 2009 will include improvements to the Marvel Loch processing plant. The plant has been in operation for more than 15 years and has a production capacity of 2.4 Mtpa.

Other Mines

Open pit mining at Southern Cross will continue to supplement the current plant throughput from the Marvel Loch underground operations for the current fiscal year. Exploration targets at Southern Cross operations include Jaccoletti, with a potential grade in excess of 4.0g/t, located 1.5Km from the Marvel Loch mill, as well as Edwards Find and Transvaal. The Transvaal district is located 30 kilometres to the north of the Marvel Loch processing plant and is connected by a dedicated haul road to the Marvel Loch plant.

In the future, Nevoria is a potential underground development

Map of Operations

View map of our Operations View map

Production Mar Qtr 2009