Blue Moon Metals has awarded a significant contract to Small Mine Development (SMD) for the construction of a portal and decline at its Blue Moon mine in Mariposa County, California, US.
The contract award follows a formal request for proposal process, with SMD’s proposal aligning with Blue Moon’s objectives regarding health and safety, local employment, cost, schedule and performance.
The construction work is a critical step towards facilitating infill and exploration drilling and will support further studies necessary for the mine’s commercialisation decision.
Blue Moon CEO Christian Kargl-Simard said: “The award of this contract represents a major step forward in the development of the critical metals-related Blue Moon Mine.
“The ability to access the orebody from underground will greatly accelerate the company’s plans towards a mine commercialisation decision, and the minimal footprint at surface allows us to do so in a very responsible manner – both physically and environmentally. We are proud to have SMD as a partner on this significant milestone.”
Planning and engineering efforts to support the construction are set to begin immediately, with portal development expected to start in the second half of 2025 (H2 2025).
The exploration decline is scheduled for completion by the third quarter of 2026 and will include an underground exploration drilling campaign and additional study work.
The project is expected to create at least 20 local jobs directly with the mine and through SMD and their subcontractors.
In related news, the European Commission has designated Blue Moon Metals’ Nussir Project in Norway as a Strategic Critical Raw Material Project under the 2023 EU Critical Raw Materials Act.
This act aims to diversify critical mineral supplies and reduce reliance on China, with the Nussir Project being the first in Norway to receive such status.
