The mining method was based on open pit mining, utilising hydraulic excavators and trucks for primary haulage, with drill and blast practices for rock breakage and wall control. Ramps were designed for exiting and entering the pit carrying two-way traffic, to achieve production requirements.
Previous haul road design widths of 35m have been increased to 40m as part of future-proofing production rates.
Open pit mining dimensions (minimum Selective Mining Unit (SMU)) are 3m x 3m x 5m. Mining dilution was added by creating an SMU and then adding 0.25m edge dilution. Overall dilution is approximately 5% to the Mineral Resource.
A minimum mining width of 35m was applied.
The Stage One Mine Plan open pit is value optimised and is designed in five phases. Rock movement is scheduled to ensure adequate operating area and access to ore.
After an initial pre-strip of 54Mt, the strip ratio for the operating life is 6.9:1 (waste tonnes : ore tonnes).
Peak total rock haulage is approximately 65Mtpa. Almost 90% of all material (ore and waste) will be mined with 550t hydraulic backhoe excavators, coupled with a fleet of ultra-class (296t) trucks, using the double-benching method. Narrower ore zones will be mined with 250t backhoe excavators to minimise dilution and improve ore recovery. Peak material movement is achieved with a manageable maximum of 17 trucks. The Project has a typical support fleet which includes drills, mid- ........
