Rox Resources (ASX: RXL) is ramping up construction and mining activities at the Youanmi gold mine in Western Australia, with managing director and CEO Phill Wilding confirming all works remain firmly on schedule ahead of a first gold pour next year.

Youanmi is a historic gold mining centre located in the Murchison region of Western Australia, and the asset was acquired by Rox through its purchase of Venus Metals' Youanmi project interest, consolidating full ownership of the tenure. The current program is focused on returning the operation to production.

"Construction works have accelerated in recent weeks as we start to transform the Youanmi Gold Mine into a production and processing hub, ahead of first gold pour next year," Wilding said.

"Importantly, all works are firmly on schedule. Bulk earthworks have been completed at all sites in the Youanmi processing plant area, with concreting now complete for the screen plant and CIL plant, and tanks under construction.

"The tailings dam has started taking shape, with clearing completed, cut-off drain established and preparations underway to build the outer wall."

Mining has also progressed well, Wilding told shareholders, with the initial levels in United North now complete and extending well past the definitive feasibility study (DFS) mine plan. Work is also progressing to commence production stoping, as the high-grade ore stockpile continues to grow.

"Works on stripping the historic Youanmi Main decline have also progressed to the point where our team has focused on turning out the initial access to the first production levels, along with upgrading the pumping infrastructure," he said.

"The accommodation camp has also reached a point of practical completion, with 351 rooms now available, giving our teams fantastic new facilities.

"This rapidly advancing on-site activity is setting the stage for the Youanmi Gold Mine to progress towards our aspiration of becoming a 150,000 ounces per annum operation in future years."

The project is also on target to receive a number of long lead items on site shortly:

• First shipment of Albion tanks departed late August, due in Perth in late September
• Crushers (primary, secondary and tertiary) all in transit
• Ball mill for limestone circuit in Perth
• Rock breaker in Perth

Elsewhere, the bulk earthworks contractor has commenced works for the tailings storage facility, with clearing now complete, the cut-off drain largely complete, and test pads complete ahead of construction of the dam outer wall.

Mining has continued to exceed overall advance rates from the DFS, with 577 metres of mining completed in August, including 431 metres of development advance across the three mining areas and 146 metres of stripping in the historic Youanmi Decline. Accesses to the first production levels in Youanmi Main have commenced from the main decline.

Key milestones for shareholders to watch in coming months include arrival of the long lead items in Perth and on site, completion of the tailings dam outer wall, and the commencement of production stoping, all ahead of the targeted first gold pour next year.

Prior to markets opening, RXL shares were steady at 62.0 cents, with a market capitalisation of $870.9 million.