Australian gold output declines as producers cut grades

Although Australian gold output declined slightly in the first three months of 2016, the country’s gold sector is benefiting from higher prices, Melbourne mining consultants Surbiton Associates said in its latest quarterly gold survey, published on Sunday. Australian gold production totalled 71 t in the latest three-month period,  which is about 1.5 t, or 2%, lower than for the December quarter in 2015. However, compared with the first quarter of 2015, output increased by 3 t, or 4%.