Development of Trident proposes to use an owner-operator mining team, and the mining cost basis is from Catalyst’s nearby operating Plutonic Mine which utilises similar mining methodologies. This PEA assumes that Trident ore will be processed at the Plutonic processing facility and be an incremental ore source to the base load being processed at Plutonic.
The conditions and constraints that guided the underground mining method selections were as follows:
* Underground workings will be accessed through a portal in the Marwest pit.
* A mixture of sub-vertical and flat dipping mining areas.
* Medium to high-grade nature of the orebody.
* Findings of additional studies, including geotechnical findings and recommendations.
The mining methods assessed aim to utilise standard high-capacity mobile underground mining equipment. Production level intervals were selected to match the limitations of the proposed mining fleet as well as orebody geological and geotechnical properties.
The medium to high-grade nature of the orebody means that maximising orebody extraction is of key importance. To achieve higher orebody extraction, a method utilising backfill is necessary given the anticipated geotechnical conditions.
An engineered cemented fill is recommended due to the varying orebody widths, anticipated wall exposures, flat dipping areas of the orebody unsuitable to other backfill types, and the ability to achieve greater ........