Mining Intelligence and News
Australia

Northern Operations (Otter Juan/Durkin North and Long) Mine

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Overview

Mine TypeUnderground
StatusCare and Maintenance
Commodities
  • Nickel
  • Copper
Mining Method
  • Longhole stoping
  • Longitudinal stoping
  • Avoca
Backfill type ... Lock
Production Start... Lock
SnapshotNorthern Operations is part of Kambalda Nickel Operations (“KNO”) and consist of Durkin North (to be accessed via the Otter Juan mine) and Long.

First development ore was extracted from the Northern Operations in December 2021. The first stope was fired in the 495 Level at Durkin North in June 2022.

First processing of ore from KNO was achieved in May 2022, sourced from a steady build up of development ore stockpiles delivered to the concentrator between February and early May 2022, resulting in the first revenue in June 2022.

The Kambalda Nickel Operations, have recently faced significant challenges due to a global oversupply of nickel and a consequent decline in prices. Wyloo Metals, which acquired Mincor Resources in 2023, announced in January 2024 that it would place its Kambalda mines into care and maintenance from May 31, 2024, citing the unfavorable nickel market conditions.

Owners

SourceSource
CompanyInterestOwnership
Wyloo Metals Pty Ltd 100 % Indirect
Northern Operations is 100% owned by Mincor Resources NL.

Mincor Resources NL was removed from the Official List at the close of trading on 25 July 2023 under Listing Rule 17.14, following compulsory acquisition of its remaining securities by Wyloo Consolidated Investments Pty Ltd.

Wyloo Metals’ acquisition of Mincor Resources makes Wyloo a producer of high-grade nickel sulphide from its acquired Cassini and Northern Operations mines.

Deposit type

  • VMS

Summary:

There are two mining areas in the Durkin North mine plan, being the D1/D2 area and the D3/D5 area. The D1/D2 area strikes predominantly east-west with a strike length of ~550m, extending from ~-85mRL (~420 mbs) to -260mRL (175m extent). This area gently plunges to the north resulting in a long strike over a relatively small vertical extent. The orebody in D1/D2 is generally narrow (1-3m), with one main lode and a small hangingwall splay in the southern area. The orebody dips to the north, with dips ranging from relatively shallow dipping (down to 45° in parts) up to 75°. The D3/D5 area strikes southeast/northwest with a strike length of ~380 m, extending from -270mRL to -450mRL (180 m extent). The plunge in this area tends to vertical. Dips are generally steeper than D1/D2, ranging from 65-80° to the north-east. The D3/D5 area contains several closely spaced economically extractable lodes in parallel, with widths 1-3m.

The Long Mineral Resource generally strikes northwest-southeast. The Mineral Resource is spread out over an extensive area. Ore pod strike lengths are variable, ranging from 20-30m to ~500m. Some areas dip steeply and continuously to the north-east at approximately 70-80°, while other ore pods are flat dipping at 15-25°. The orebody is generally less than 2m thick.

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

Long nickel operation was transitioned to care and maintenance in June 2018.
CommodityUnits201820172016LOM (Projected)
Nickel t 5,8558,4338,49318,600
Copper t 394592610
All production numbers are expressed as metal in concentrate.

Operational metrics

Metrics201820172016
Ore tonnes mined 181,822 t205,372 t215,337 t
Tonnes milled 181,822 t205,372 t215,337 t

Production Costs

Commodity20182017
** Net of By-Product.

Financials

Units20182017
Revenue M AUD 64.8   70.5  
Pre-tax Income M AUD 1.4   0.7  

Heavy Mobile Equipment

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Personnel

Mine Management

Job TitleNameProfileRef. Date
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Jan 26, 2025
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Jan 26, 2025

Aerial view:

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