The Vivien deposit is characterised by a quartz vein hosted by a dolerite-gabbro unit. The veins trend 028° magnetic and dips steeply (70°) to the SE. The host dolerite-gabbro sill (Vivien Dolerite) has a horizontal thickness of ~ 600 metres with an ultramafic unit in the structural footwall (west) and sedimentary sequences in the hangingwall (east).

The quartz vein/lode averages 2.7m width and has significant strike and dip continuity (˜500m). Higher grade shoots occur within the lode and plunge moderately to the NE. The high-grade zones are generally wider and sulphide rich, with pyrrhotite and arsenopyrite as the dominant sulphide species. The alteration halo associated with gold mineralisation is generally narrow and vein contacts with the host dolerite are generally very competent.

At the Vivien underground operation, stoping commenced early in the financial year and a significant increase in gold ore production followed from both ore stoping and development activities. The development of the underground decline was also progressed throughout the year, advancing 630 metres to the 200RL by 30 June 2017.

Significant progress was made at Vivien with mining achieving full production rates by the June 2017 quarter. This was later than initially planned, however alterations to the mine plan were made to allow for emplacement of cemented rock fill (CRF) floor pillars (300 & 260 levels) and use of CRF rib pillars in highgrade zones. The use of CRF pillars will allow for 100% extraction of high-grade lode zones and improve the project overall value.

Gold ore from Vivien gold mine was trucked to Checker processing facility at Mt Magnet and has been successfully blended with  both Kathleen Valley and Mt Magnet ore and processing by conventional CIL/CIP.

Processing includes primary crushing, conveying, coarse ore storage, primary and secondary milling, gravity gold circuit consisting of a gravity concentrator and an intensive cyanidation circuit. The balance of gold recovery is obtained from a seven tank CIL circuit, four tonne pressure Zadra elution circuit and electrowinning systems.