Clousers fail to stem Australian production increase

摘要

Australia is producing more gold than ever,despite mine closures. The country's gold produced 82.7 tones inthe December 1997 quarter, capping a record year that saw totalannual gold output soar to 314.5 tones. For the first timeAustralia's annual gold output has exceeded 10 million ounces.Close pointed out that 23 gold mines ceased production, were inthe process of being shut down or were placed on care andmaintenance in 1997- most were small or high cost with limitedreserves- and only six new mines came on stream. The newmines included Acacia Resources Ltd's Sunrise Dam andGindalbie Gold NL's Two Boys in Western Australia.