NEW Dawn Mining Corporation says gold production in the last quarter of 2011 amounted toâ-¯9 095 ounces compared to 4 808 ouncesâ-¯registered aâ-¯year ago in the same period, representing anâ-¯increase of 89,2%.

The mining concern said for the three months to December 31 consolidated gold sales totalled US$15,44 million at an average price per ounce of US$1 684. This compares to US$6,46 million in consolidated gold revenue a year earlier at an average sales price of US$1 370 per ounce, a 139% increase on a consolidated basis, the company said.

"As compared to consolidated gold production for the previous quarter ended September 30 2011 of 8,814 ounces, consolidated gold production for the current quarter ended December 31 2011 increased by 3,2%," the company said in a statement.

"Consolidated gold sales for the quarter ended December 31 2011 totalled US$15 440 766 (US$14 238 642 attributable) at an average sales price per ounce of US$1 684, compared to US$6 458 735 (US$6 184 661 attributable) for the quarter ended December 31 2010 at an average sales price per ounce of US$1 370, an increase of 139,1% (130,2% increase on an attributable basis)," the company said.

With December 2011 gold production totalingâ-¯3 252 ounces, equivalent to annualised gold production of 39 024 ounces,â-¯ New Dawn achieved its production target of 38 000 to 40 000 ounces of annualised gold production within its projected timeframe.

It is targeting 60 000 ounces of gold production by the end of 2012 and 100 000 ounces by the end of 2014.â-¯

New Dawn owns 100% of the Turk and Angelus mines, the Old Nic Mine and the Camperdown Mine, and has an approximately 85% equity interest in Dalny Mine, the Golden Quarry Mine and Venice Mine.

Recently, underground workers at Turk and Angelus gold mines went on strike but the company officials said the work stoppage "resulted in minimal impact to gold production".

The mines are situated 40km out ofâ-¯Bulawayo.