Overview
| Stage | Production |
| Mine Type | Open Pit & Underground |
| Commodities |
|
| Mining Method |
- Truck & Shovel / Loader
- Block caving
- Sub-level caving
|
| Processing |
- Crush & Screen plant
- Flotation
|
| Production Start | ...  |
| Mine Life | 7 years (as of Jan 1, 2022) |
Leinster underground ceased operations in 2013 and recommenced operations in 2016 with Venus sub-level cave now in operation and B11 block cave developing its undercut and draw points. Rocky’s Reward open-pit mine ceased mining in 2021. |
Source:
p. 181,203
Contractors
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Deposit Type
- Intrusion related
- Metamorphic
Summary:
Steeply dipping disseminated and massive textured nickel-sulphide mineralisation associated with metamorphosed ultramafic lava flows and intrusions.
BHP Billiton’s Leinster Nickel Operation (LNO) is located 600 km north-east of Perth in the Eastern Goldfields Region of Western Australia. The LNO deposits are situated within the Wiluna Greenstone Belt and the orebodies are hosted in Komatite Ultramafic lava flows.
Mining Methods
- Truck & Shovel / Loader
- Block caving
- Sub-level caving
Summary:
Leinster mine complex - Venus sub-level caving operation, B11 block caving operation, Rocky’s Reward open-pit mine.
Rocky’s Reward open-pit mine ceased mining in 2021
Leinster B11, BHP’s first block cave, continues development whilst producing. Ore is being hoisted to the Leinster concentrator and the undercut and drawbell development essential to this mining method are expected to be complete in CY2023.
Processing
- Crush & Screen plant
- Flotation
Source:
Summary:
Nickel sulphide ore is mined at the Leinster underground mines and processed through a concentrator and dryer at Leinster.
Concentration plant with a nominal capacity 3 Mtpa of ore.
In 2018 Leinster went through a modernisation of sections of the flotation circuit through the targeted upgrading of cells combined with additional process controls. This included replacing old flotation mechanisms with the latest technology and installing the newest flotation cell control instrumentation linked into the DCS supervisory controller.
Upgrades to the Leinster concentrator have realised record production rates, requiring increased mining activities to fill capacity.
Nickel concentrate shipped by road and rail to Kalgoorlie Nickel Smelter.
Recoveries & Grades:
| Commodity | Parameter | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 |
|
Nickel
|
Concentrate Grade, %
| ...... | ...... | ...... | ...... |
Reserves at June 30, 2022:
Cut-off criteria:
Mineral Resources: OC Disseminated Sulphide - 0.40% Ni, UG Disseminated Sulphide - Variable between stratigraphic for block cave and 1.0% Ni, Oxide - 1.2% Ni.
Ore Reserves: OC - 0.54% Ni, UG - 0.73% Ni.
| Category | Tonnage | Commodity | Grade |
|
Proven & Probable
|
8 Mt
|
Nickel
|
1.25 %
|
|
Total Resource
|
173.1 Mt
|
Nickel
|
0.95 %
|
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