Overview
Stage | Permitting |
Mine Type | Open Pit & Underground |
Commodities |
|
Mining Method |
- Avoca
- Longhole open stoping
- Longitudinal retreat
- Truck & Shovel / Loader
- Unconsolidated rockfill
- Cemented (undefined) backfill
|
Mine Life | 8 years (as of Jan 1, 2023) |
The Whim Creek Project comprises four deposits: Mons Cupri and Whim Creek are proposed to be mined using conventional open-cut mining techniques, and the high-grade Evelyn and Salt Creek deposits are proposed to be mined using underground techniques.
In April 2023, Anax released the results of its Definitive Feasibility Study for the Whim Creek project. The DFS considers processing of sulphide ore through a proposed new 400 ktpa concentrator.
In September 2023, the results of the Whim Creek Heap Leach Scoping Study was published, which considered the processing of oxide, transitional and low-grade sulphide ore using the refurbished and fully permitted heap leach infrastructure located at Whim Creek. The heap leach would operate in parallel with the proposed 400 ktpa concentrator. The heap leach is assumed to commence production in the third year of operation.
All DMIRS approvals have been obtained for the commencement of mining activities at the Whim Creek Project. |
Source:
p. 17
The Whim Creek Project is jointly held by Anax Metals Ltd. (80%) through its wholly owned subsidiary, Whim Creek Metals Pty Ltd, and Develop (20%) through wholly owned subsidiaries, Venturex Pilbara Pty Ltd and Jutt Resources Pty Ltd.
Contractors
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Summary:
The Whim Creek Project comprises four deposits - Whim Creek, Mons Cupri, Salt Creek and Evelyn.
The Mons Cupri, Whim Creek, Evelyn and Salt Creek deposits are interpreted to be VMS-style deposits. VMS-style deposits are classed under the general heading of “exhalative” deposits, which also include sedimentary exhalative type deposits and form at or near the seafloor through the circulation of hot, metal-rich hydrothermal fluids. These hydrothermal fluids undergo rapid cooling as they come into contact with the ocean floor, resulting in the precipitation and accumulation of metals, similar to present-day black smokers.
The base metal deposits that comprise the Project all occur within the Whim Creek Greenstone Belt, a granite-greenstone terrane that formed between 3,600 Ma and 2,800 Ma, part of the Archaean-aged Pilbara Craton.
Whim Creek
The Whim Creek volcanics crop out as a continuous arcuate belt some 85 km long and 5-10 km wide, that extends around the southern, eastern and northern flanks of the ovoid Caines Well batholith. The western limit of the southern arm of the volcanic arc is blanketed by Late Archaean rocks, although it may extend further west and overly the Sholl belt. The northern flank is wedged out between the Caines Well batholith and the Scholl Shear. All stratabound VMS deposits in the Whim Creek belt (i.e., Mons Cupri, Salt Creek and Whim Creek) are at the same or equivalent stratigraphic level within the Mons Cupri ........
Mining Methods
- Avoca
- Longhole open stoping
- Longitudinal retreat
- Truck & Shovel / Loader
- Unconsolidated rockfill
- Cemented (undefined) backfill
Summary:
Mons Cupri and Whim Creek are proposed to be mined using conventional open cut mining techniques, while the high-grade Evelyn and Salt Creek deposits are proposed to be mined using underground techniques. Contractor mining will be used for both the open pit and underground mines.
Open pit mining
Both pits have 30 to 60 metres (m) of weathered overburden to remove to access the fresh ore. Once the overburden is removed, the mining rate requirements to maintain ore supply reduce dramatically. Pre-stripping will be completed in 1.5 years. The mine plan has been developed on the basis of pre-stripping in advance using a 200 tonne (t) class excavator and 90 t capacity dump trucks, and a separate fleet for selective mining of ore and associated waste using a 90 t class excavator and 45 t capacity articulated dump trucks (ADTs).
Open pit mining is expected to be completed in approximately 3 years and will commence at Mons Cupri, followed by a cut-back at Whim Creek.
The bench heights were reviewed in parallel with the dilution modelling and 2.5 m flitch height selected with blasting on 7.5 m benches. This suits the selected equipment size for the selective mining operation. The 2.5 m bench is considered the minimum for the larger fleet and there is opportunity to increase this to 3.75 m to mine the 7.5 m blast bench on two passes.
The pits and internal stages were each designed with separate access using dual lane ramps except for the ........
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Flow Sheet:
Summary:
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Source:
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Projected Production:
Gold(Precious Metal) Concentrate: Along with 39 g/t Au and 146 g/t Ag, the precious metals concentrate also contains 6% Cu and 2.8% bismuth.
Commodity | Units | LOM |
Copper
|
kt
| 251 |
Zinc
|
kt
| ...... |
Lead
|
kt
| ...... |
Gold
|
kt
| ...... |
All production numbers are expressed as concentrate.
Operational Metrics:
Metrics | |
Hourly processing rate
| ...... |
Annual processing capacity
| ...... |
Waste OP
| ...... |
Ore tonnes mined, LOM
| ...... |
* According to 2023 study.
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Reserves at April 3, 2023:
Cut-off parameters:
Whim Creek Project Copper Domain Mineral Resources: Mons Cupri (Cu = 0.4%); Salt Creek (Cu = 0.8% & Zn < 2.5%); Whim Creek (Cu = 0.4%).
Whim Creek Project Zinc Domain Mineral Resources: Mons Cupri (Zn = 2.0% & Cu < 0.4%); Salt Creek (Zn = 2.50%); Whim Creek (Zn = 2.0% & Cu < 0.4%).
Mineral Resources are reported inclusive of Mineral Reserves.
Category | OreType | Tonnage | Commodity | Grade | Contained Metal |
Proven & Probable
|
Total
|
4.55 Mt
|
Copper
|
1.36 %
|
|
Proven & Probable
|
Total
|
4.55 Mt
|
Zinc
|
2.3 %
|
|
Proven & Probable
|
Total
|
4.55 Mt
|
Lead
|
0.68 %
|
|
Proven & Probable
|
Total
|
4.55 Mt
|
Silver
|
29 ppm
|
|
Proven & Probable
|
Total
|
4.55 Mt
|
Gold
|
0.26 ppm
|
|
Total Resource
|
Copper
|
9,240 kt
|
Copper
|
1.22 %
|
112,000 t
|
Total Resource
|
Zinc
|
1,750 kt
|
Copper
|
0.37 %
|
7,000 t
|
Total Resource
|
Copper
|
9,240 kt
|
Zinc
|
0.75 %
|
69,000 t
|
Total Resource
|
Zinc
|
1,750 kt
|
Zinc
|
6.75 %
|
118,000 t
|
Total Resource
|
Copper
|
9,240 kt
|
Lead
|
0.2 %
|
18,000 t
|
Total Resource
|
Zinc
|
1,750 kt
|
Lead
|
2.05 %
|
36,000 t
|
Total Resource
|
Copper
|
9,240 kt
|
Silver
|
15 ppm
|
4,330,000 oz
|
Total Resource
|
Zinc
|
1,750 kt
|
Silver
|
50 ppm
|
2,790,000 oz
|
Total Resource
|
Copper
|
9,240 kt
|
Gold
|
0.15 ppm
|
43,700 oz
|
Total Resource
|
Zinc
|
1,750 kt
|
Gold
|
0.22 ppm
|
12,600 oz
|
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