Gold Duke is a brownfields project in Western Australia's Mid West with estimated resources of 4.57 million tonnes, grading 2 grams per tonne for 293,000 gold ounces.

Western Gold has mining approvals in place at the Eagle, Emu and Golden Monarch deposits, which hold 142,000oz.

Mining approval will be sought over Gold King, to exploit the 580,000t grading at 1.9gpt, for the 36,000oz.

Gold King is just 500m to the south of the Golden Monarch deposit.

The mining plan includes the development of eight shallow pits.

Western Gold chairman Gary Lyons said discussions over processing the gold were continuing with nearby plants within an economic radius of the project to ensure the company could take advantage of the strong gold price.

The previous mining schedule and pit optimisation at Gold Duke were calculated using a gold price of $2450 per ounce, however, the price has since risen to about $2949/oz.

Perth-based BHM Process Consultants has also begun test work on site to determine the amenability of the orebodies to heap leaching.