Eight workers were trapped in the mine after the deadly flood in April and searches were ongoing—the bodies were all recovered in June.

In its Q2 report, the Canadian miner said the halt followed continued operational performance issues due to low productivity rates and equipment and operator availability from the mining contractor.

The underground development could boost Haile's gold production by up to 100,000 oz. a year.

"Projected annual shortfalls will place unprecedented strain on supply chains. The challenges this poses are reminiscent of the 20th-century scramble for oil".

Softer numbers translated into depressed equity market support for the mining industry.