Terramin Australia Limited announced to shareholders on Friday that the underground mine had commenced continuous operations to produce zinc and lead-copper-gold-silver concentrates.

The company’s executive chairman, Dr Kevin Moriarty, said the first concentrate would be sold within two weeks.

The first shipment of zinc concentrate would leave Port Adelaide and the official opening of the mine would take place in late September.

“The mine is powering ahead … underground development is established on three levels with the decline now 460 metres from the portal entrance,” Mr Moriarty said.

“There are 25,000 tonnes of ore in surface stockpiles ready for processing.”

A second drill jumbo is soon to be employed to further speed up the process.

Angas is forecast to produce 400,000 tonnes of zinc and lead-copper concentrates over its seven year mine life.

The zinc concentrate is destined for Asian markets while the lead-copper will go to the Port Pirie smelter for refining.

Dr Moriarty said the Strathalbyn mine’s lead-copper concentrate had a high gold and silver content, which would boost the revenue from the mine.

The main construction contractor on the mine was Abesque Engineering and Construction, who won the $29.2million contract for the project in March 2007.

The mine employs 65 permanent staff.