It said experienced Brazil mining contractor U&M Mineração e Construção S/A was mobilising to site and expected to start mining activity this month.

Cashed-up Equinox formed in December in a three-way merger between Trek Mining, NewCastle Gold and Anfield Gold. 

Its Aurizona construction is fully funded thanks to a US$85 million Sprott credit facility and its treasury of $71 million at the start of this year.

It said the plant refurbishment was substantially complete and the overall project was 30% complete.

The first tailings facility raise was also substantially complete and ready to receive and store water this wet season, ahead of the planned process plant start-up in the fourth quarter.

"Construction remains on track to pour gold by late 2018," Equinox said.

A high-voltage power upgrade is underway and the company has also awarded a contract to SGS Geosol Brazil to supply and operate an on-site assay lab, which it expects will be fully functional by the end of September.

Contractor U&M has more than 40 years' experience and worked on a number of projects in northern Brazil including Vale's massive-scale S11D (BZ:VALE5).

Aurizona is expected to produce 136,000 ounces of gold over an initial 6.5-year mine life at an all-in sustaining cost of US$754/oz, with a modest capex of $130.8 million, according to a 2017 feasibility study by Trek.

Equinox shares are up 2.68% year-to-date, capitalising it at C$486.8 million.