BlackhamResources Ltd. said July 20 that it has started open pit mining andunderground development work at the company's Matilda gold project in Western Australia.

The open pit contractor, MACA Ltd., has started operationsat the Matilda M10 open pit, while Pybar Mining Services Ltd. has kicked offunderground development at the high-grade Golden Age orebody.

The Matilda project has a resource of 5.1 million ounces, and an initial mine lifeof 8 years.

The wet commissioning of the Wiluna processing plant,meanwhile, is on track to begin in August.