The modern Golden Cross mine
entered the production phase in January 1992. The project is designed to produce
over 100 000 oz/yr of gold and over 300 000 oz/yr of silver during a mine life
of eight years. An open pit and an underground mine are operated producing
around 850 000 t/yr of ore, to feed a conventional carbon-in-leach processing
plant. Golden Cross is owned in joint venture by Coeur Gold New Zealand Limited
(80%) and Viking Mining Company Limited (20 %).

Since the start of production several major aspects of
the design have altered. The underground mine began as a mechanised cut and fill
operation. The cut and fill stoping progresses in 3.3 m flatback lifts with
maximum stoping width of 6 m. Where the ore zone is wider than 6 m a post pillar
cut and fill method is used. In 1993 a new bench mining plan was introduced
between the 270 and 260 levels. Flatbacking continued in the footwall drives in
anticipation of variability of the ore width and orientation. The development of
levels below the main service 200 level has indicated a possibility of bulk
mining the ore block rather than flatbacks. This could lower mining costs but
also introduce higher dilution rates. Development is in the advanced stages for
trialing this method.