The miner said development activities at the B3 and C-Zone areas also resumed last weekend, as well as ore extraction on Lift 1 at a limited capacity.

Following the incident, it has closed the impacted area; it will remain closed until further notice.

Milling, tailings operations and construction activities resumed late last week. The mine's mill is now processing ore from the live pile and intermediate-grade surface stockpile, and officials said the volume there is sufficient to feed the mill until the mine returns to full operations.

"The restarting of mining activities is a significant step for the New Afton Mine as we continue our safe and sequential return to full operations," president and CEO Renaud Adams said.

"As we move forward, our primary focus remains on the health, safety and wellbeing of our employees, contractors and their families and we will continue to provide counselling and support for them."

New Gold's core producing assets in Canada are New Afton along with Rainy River. It also operates the Cerro San Pedro mine in Mexico which is now in reclamation.