Millennium Minerals Limited announced that the proposed development of the first-ever underground mining operation at its 100%- owned Nullagine Gold Project in Western Australia has further progressed with the completion of an updated Mineral Resource and interim Ore Reserve for the Bartons deposit. The updated Mineral Resource, comprising 627,300 tonnes grading 4.9g/t Au for 97,900oz of contained gold, represents a 22% increase on the Phase 1 Mineral Resource announced in August 2017. The increase follows on from the highly successful in-fill diamond and reverse circulation and diamond core drilling programs completed up until mid-November 2017. Importantly, the updated Mineral Resource features a more than sixfold increase in Indicated Resources to 407,400 tonnes grading 5.6g/t Au for 72,900oz, up from 10,100oz previously. This reflects the success of the in-fill drilling programs completed last year and has paved the way for a maiden Ore Reserve estimate for the Bartons underground deposit, comprising 270,000 tonnes grading 4.5 g/t Au for 39,000oz of contained gold. Both the Phase 2 Mineral Resource and the maiden Ore Reserve, which were completed by the leading global mining consultant Entech, will underpin the Feasibility Study on the Bartons underground mine, due for completion this quarter. One of the final inputs to this study are firm mining costs from the selected underground mining contractor. A short-list of preferred tenderers has now been finalised, with the award of the contract expected by the end of this month and underground development scheduled to commence by quarter-end. This provides a strong foundation for the imminent development of the first-ever underground mine at Nullagine, with mining scheduled to commence by quarter- end. Short-list of preferred underground mining contractors now finalised, with the underground mining contract expected to be awarded this month. Gold production of 21,400oz achieved for the December 2017 quarter, taking full-year production for CY2017 to 72,800oz. Production was slightly below guidance due to the delay in delivering some high-grade tonnes from the Bartons open pit. These additional ounces are expected to be delivered in the March 2018 quarter, resulting in strong forecast quarterly production of 18,000-20,000oz. 2018 exploration program resumed at Nullagine on 4 January with a diamond rig focussing on the Golden Eagle sulphide study. A further three RC rigs will commence in the coming weeks to drill the Golden Eagle South discovery, scope out further mineralisation surrounding the Processing Plant and to further delineate the Redbeard discovery. A Maiden Mineral Resource is expected for Redbeard later this month.