RNC Minerals outlined a maiden proven and probable reserve for its Beta Hunt gold mine in Western Australia of 3.4 million tonnes at 2.8 g/t of gold containing 310,000 ounces, using a 2.0 g/t gold cutoff grade.

The mineral reserve forms the basis for Beta Hunt's mine plan, which schedules base-load feed to the company's wholly owned Higginsville treatment plant.

The reserve is based on the A Zone and Western Flanks mineral resource, which contains measured and indicated resources of 10.1 Mt at 2.9 g/t of gold containing 944,000 ounces.

The inferred resource at Beta Hunt stands a 4.1 Mt at 3.1 g/t of gold containing 406,000 ounces. Resources were estimated at a 1.6 g/t gold cutoff grade.

The company said Dec. 23 that the remaining gold mineral resources can potentially result in additional reserves, with Western Flanks and A Zone mineralization remaining open at both depth and along strike.