The OC mine is proposed to be an own-operate, truck-shovel operation utilising mid-sized hydraulic excavators matched to a fleet of 75 tonne dump trucks The UG mine will be decline accessed and based on contract mining for development and ore production using standard rubber tyred diesel and electro-hydraulic underground mining equipment.
Open Cut Mining
Updates to the 2019 Mineral Reserve Estimate have been made during the current Feasibility Study, none of which are considered to result in a material variance from the original estimate of 3.0Mt @ 0.73% WO3. Technical studies into scheduling, equipment, drill and blast and power and fuel costs have resulted in minor revisions to cost estimation. Physical constraints, cut offs and mine design remain essentially the same with the most significant updates to the 2019 estimate being:
- Updated equipment list;
- Revision of ore schedule into 2 stages;
- Smoothing of the waste movement schedule to optimise mining costs;
- Increased drilling capacity with smaller holes and 100% emulsion explosives to reduce blasting effects on Grassy town and improve fragmentation;
- Updated OC cost estimation.
The majority of the waste and ore will require drill and blasting; the exception to this being old fill and marine sand material. Blasts will be engineered to ensure minimum displacement of the ore to minimise dilution and ore loss. Drilling will be carried out by 2 top hammer rigs with b ........
