Vivien is a typical orogenic structurally controlled Archaean gold lode system.

Mineralisation occurs within a high-grade quartz vein, hosted by a dolerite-gabbro unit. The veins trend 028° magnetic and dips steeply (70°) to the SE. The quartz vein/lode averages 2.7m width and has significant strike and dip continuity (˜500m). The high-grade zones are generally wider and sulphide rich, with pyrrhotite and arsenopyrite being the dominant sulphide species. Mineralisation is related to a secondary phase of quartz veining with associated sulphide mineralisation.

UG deposit Vivien is mined by conventional sub-level open stoping methods and a conventional, narrow, top-down, long hole stoping method, with partial backfilling.

Mining contractor:
RUC Cementation Mining:
Scope of Works:
- Extension of existing underground operations;
- Full underground services including all decline and lateral development;
- Production including long hole open stoping, blasting, bogging;
- Backfilling of open stopes with rockfill and CRF;
- Peak work force of 45 personnel;
- Physicals include over 3,600m of lateral development, 325,000 stope tonnes and 2 million TKMs.

The high grade Vivien underground ore is processed through the Mt Magnet processing plant.

The Mt Magnet processing plant is a conventional CIL/CIP gold plant with single stage crushing, primary SAG milling in closed-circuit with a pebble crusher, and secondary closed-circuit ball milling. A centrifugal style gravity gold recovery circuit operates on a portion of the secondary milling product hydrocyclone underflow. Gravity gold concentrate is intensively leached. Cyanide leaching on the classified mill product is undertaken through two large, agitated leach tanks, two large, agitated adsorption tanks and three (of six) older Pachuca style (air agitated) adsorption tanks. Leach kinetics are improved through the addition of oxygen through the first leach tank stages of the circuit. Gold is eluted from the loaded activated carbon, it is then electrowon, calcined and smelted into gold doré as is standard practice.