Mining Intelligence and News
Australia

Anthill Mine

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Overview

Mine TypeOpen Pit
StatusActive
Commodities
  • Copper
Mining Method
  • Truck & Shovel / Loader
Production Start... Lock
Mine Life... Lock
SnapshotThe Company is actively developing its Anthill copper mine which achieved an average daily production rate of 33.5 tonnes of LME Grade-A copper cathode from its Mt Kelly heap leach and SXEW processing plant by the end of 2022.

Austral continues to develop the Anthill Mine as it seeks to extend the mine life beyond four-years. Between October and November 2022, the Company drilled 41 reverse circulation holes, and it intends to continue drilling in 2023.

Owners

SourceSource
CompanyInterestOwnership
Austral Resources Australia Ltd. 100 % Indirect
The Anthill oxide copper mine is owned by Austral Resources.

Contractors

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Deposit type

  • Breccia pipe / Stockwork

Summary:

The mineral resources comprise secondary oxide copper mineralisation that form as sub-horizontal blankets in the ferruginous saprolite horizon, immediately above underlying copper sulphide mineralisation which is structurally controlled. Oxide copper mineralisation occurs predominantly in the form of malachite, with minor amounts of azurite, chrysocolla, cuprite, and rare native copper. The primary sulphide mineralisation occurs as chalcopyrite and pyrite, with cuprite and chalcocite occurring in the transitional zone between the oxide and sulphide zones.

The Anthill deposit is hosted predominantly within the Esperanza Formation. The host lithology of the orebody is inferred to be dolomitic siltstones; however, the strong weathering and oxidation process has resulted in the near complete loss of dolomite from the rock in the upper oxide zone. The mineralisation appears to be controlled by a combination of steep structural elements and broad dome features. The Anthill transition is commonly hosted in structurally controlled silicified zones as well as in silicified sedimentary breccia in dolomite, which appear to have been a preferred permeability horizon for mineralising fluids.

Dimensions
Approximately 1,700 m x 770 m and ranges in thickness from less than 10 m to approximately 40 m; mineralisation is subdivided into three areas: Anthill East, Anthill West, and Anthill Link (low-grade).

Reserves

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Mining Methods

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Comminution

Crushers and Mills

Milling equipment has not been reported.

Processing

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Production

CommodityUnitsAvg. Annual (Projected)LOM (Projected)
Copper M lbs 2289
All production numbers are expressed as cathode.

Operational metrics

Metrics2022
Daily processing rate  ....  Subscribe
Annual production capacity  ....  Subscribe
Ore tonnes mined  ....  Subscribe
Total tonnes mined  ....  Subscribe
Tonnes processed  ....  Subscribe

Production Costs

Commodity production costs have not been reported.

Heavy Mobile Equipment

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Personnel

Mine Management

Job TitleNameProfileRef. Date
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Jan 8, 2024
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Sep 10, 2021
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Sep 10, 2021
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Jan 12, 2024
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Jan 8, 2024

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