The Project lies within the Neoproterozoic Xixano Complex, which in the Balama region comprises a NNE-trending synform with a core of mafic orthogneisses surrounded by micaceous gneiss and schist, quartz-feldspar gneiss, quartzite and marble. Graphitic gneiss and schist, locally enriched in vanadium within the micaceous gneiss unit, dominates the Balama area.

Higher grade graphite mineralisation is hosted by graphitic schists interlayered with lower grade psammites and intruded by volumetrically minor pegmatites. At Balama East, the graphitic units bifurcate around a granitic intrusion which outcrops as a dominant hill. The graphitic units dip variably to local grid north at an average of around 45°.

Relative to the pre-mining surface, the graphitic schists were overlain by an average of around 2 to 3 m of un-mineralised soil and overburden, and variably weathered to an average depth of around 30 m.

The graphite mineralisation is mostly contained in stratiform graphitic schists. The flake size of the graphite is up to 4mm.

The mineralisation interpretation extends over a strike length of 1,050 m and 1,450m at Balama West and Balama East, respectively. The mineralisation is open to the west, east and north.

Mepiche (formerly Balama East) mineralised domains comprise a main zone of generally moderate TGC grades flanked to the south by a comparatively narrow zone of lower TGC grades. In the east, the domains bifurcate ar ........

Balama’s three deposits are Ativa (formerly part of Balama West), Mualia and Mepiche. The Ativa deposit is currently in operation.

Syrah is using conventional open pit mining methods. Some of the softer material in the oxide zone is identified as free dig, meaning no drilling and blasting is required for this material. Mining is currently taking place using contractors and has been costed as such in the long-term plan.


Production rate
The average total movement is 3.5 Mt/a for an average ore production rate of 2.0 Mt/a. The mine life is 57 years.

Mine designs
New pit designs were created for all the pits (Mepiche, Mualia and Ativa) by Snowden Optiro based on the pit optimisation outputs. The life-of-mine strip ratio was estimated to be approximately 0.52:1 (W:O). A minimum mining width of 30 m was allowed for in the designs based on the current mining fleet of 85 t excavator and 40 t articulated dump trucks and 60 t rigid trucks.

Geotechnical
The pit depths have been constrained to approximately 100 m to minimise geotechnical risk. The Project life of mine is 57 years. Additional geotechnical work would be required to further increase the pit depths and life-of-mine if required. Snowden Optiro has adapted this criterion to mean that the pit floor is the 470 mRL (i.e., the surface for both deposits is approximately 570 mRL).

Mualia pit geotechnical
The Mualia pit is in close proximity of the ........

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