Shares in Galantas Gold Corp (LON:GAL, CVE:GAL) advanced as it revealed it had ordered mining equipment ahead of potential underground excavation at its gold mine in Omagh, Northern Ireland.
The refurbished units - a scoop and a drill jumbo - are expected to be delivered this month (August).
They will be used in the construction of the lower underground portal, which is to be built at the base of the Kearney open pit, and where preparation is well advanced.
Local employees will receive operator training in advance of underground operations, while the main operating equipment is planned to be supplied new when project funding is secured.
Meanwhile, updating on exploration, it said it had found new targets. Detailed mapping had recently been completed over the Creevan Burn Shear-zone (CBS) to the south of the Omagh mine site.
The data showed veins may persist to the south of the CBS and mine site and underlie parts of the shear-zone at depths in excess of the current planned mining depth, while other data shows that vein systems to the north of the CBS may persist also at extended depths to the north of the mine-site.
Mining is currently suspended at the firm's Cavanacaw mine and the group is awaiting the outcome of a judicial review in September challenging planning consent for an underground mine.
Galantas shares today rose over 6% to stand at 8.50p each.