With a previously delayed secondary egress rise now completed at the OK underground mine, Pantoro has moved to production stoping.

The first stope was excavated with down holes from the Star of Erin 095 level.

Pantoro reported that excavation was successful in maintaining design width and excellent fragmentation, with bogging of the stope now underway ahead of backfilling and excavation of the next production panel.

Development in the Star of Erin 253 level has also brought consistent and very high grade ore, Pantoro claimed, with high grades continuing in the latest development cuts.

Pantoro managing director Paul Cmrlec said that while it was still early days, the potential upside displayed in the development at OK was very encouraging.

"We look forward to increasing production from the mine as more work areas become available in the coming months," he said.

"While vertical continuity of the ore zone is yet to be tested with additional development above and below the 253 level, results to date suggest that there is strong potential to the upside on the current ore reserve in the Star of Erin with the OK ore being well documented as being a highly nuggety orebody."

Cmrlec said development of the levels above and below the 253 level was being prioritised, with ore development expected to be underway in those areas in March or April 2023.

On surface in the Scotia open pit, Cmrlec said the plan was to rapidly advance mining to access high grade ore in the June 2023 quarter.

"It is very pleasing to see progress in both the underground and open pit mines at Norseman," he said.

"While the project start-up has been difficult for a number of reasons, we remain very confident in the long-term value of the Norseman project."