| Name | Golden Grove |
| Location | Located approximately 450 kilometres north-east of Perth and 280 kilometres east of Geraldton in Western Australia |
| Product | Zinc concentrate, copper concentrate, precious metal concentrate |
| Mining method | Underground, sub-level open stoping |
| Processing method | Crushing, grinding, flotation |
| Commenced Operation | 1990 |
| Reserves* | 0.4 million tonnes zinc, 0.16 million tonnes copper, 0.23 million ounces gold, 10.17 million ounces silver |
| Resources* | 1.4 million tonnes zinc, 0.8 million tonnes copper, 1.0 million ounces gold, 43.7 million ounces silver |
| 2008 production | 18,467 tonnes copper, 139,900 tonnes zinc, 13,330 tonnes lead, 47,755 ounces gold, 3,157,837 ounces silver |
| Sales | Concentrates are exported via the Port of Geraldton to customers in China, Japan, India, Thailand and Australia. |
| Workforce | Over 800 |
| * As at 30 June 2008 (see OZ Minerals ASX Release 23 December 2008 for full statement of Mineral Resources and Ore Reserves) | |
| ** Includes all employees (full-time, part-time and casual) and contractors as at 31 December 2008 | |
Golden Grove is an underground base and precious metals mine, which produces concentrates of zinc, copper and lead/precious metals. The operation is located in the mid-west region of Western Australia and consists of the Scuddles and Gossan Hill zinc and copper underground mines and the Scuddles plant.
Operations
Production (contained metal in concentrate) for 2008 was 139,900 tonnes of zinc, 18,467 tonnes of copper, 13,330 tonnes of lead, 47,755 ounces of gold and 3,157,837 ounces of silver. Zinc production was well above forecasts and mainly the result of high zinc grades and increased throughput in the December quarter. In 2009 mine scheduling will see reduced zinc production and higher copper production. The nature of the Golden Grove polymetallic mine gives capability to vary the mix for 2009, of copper and zinc produced. Production guidance is 50,000 - 55,000 tonnes of zinc and 40,000 - 45,000 tonnes of copper, 4,000 - 6,000 tonnes of lead, 28,000 - 34,000 ounces of gold and 1.1-1.6 million ounces of silver.
Golden Grove consists of the Scuddles and Gossan Hill zinc and copper underground mines and the Scuddles plant. As part of measures taken to reduce operating costs, OZ Minerals announced in January 2009 that the Scuddles mine would be put on care and maintenance.
Operating costs at Golden Grove remained world competitive at US43.1c/lb zinc due to extensive long-term margin improvement measures.
In 2008, significant discoveries were made at Golden Grove, which highlights the potential for further additions to mine life and annual capacity.
Expansion studies to investigate the addition of open pit copper mining and possible extensions of the underground mine have been temporarily put on hold due to current low commodity prices.
Exploration
Exploration drilling on the southern leases at Golden Grove in 2008 concentrated on testing the resource potential within 500 metres of surface.
Although drilling intersected several discontinuous zones of mineralisation in the Gossan Valley area, potential for near surface economic mineralisation was downgraded.
