Mining and exploration occur in an area where tectonically induced salt (evaporite) mobilisation took place, followed by uplift and erosion which resulted in today’s geological framework. The bedrock map shows the intersections of northwest striking and plunging synclines and anticlines and north-striking faults. The Kipoi anticline is a major structure and its core is faulted by a reverse fault or thrust which displaced the southwest flank over the northeast flank. The faulted anticline is followed north and south by synclines occupied by Nguba Group and Kundelungu Group sediments.

Kipoi Central Copper (Cobalt-Silver) Project
Kipoi Central mineralisation is hosted in a fragment consisting of Mwashya Series (R-4), the youngest of the Roan Group, overlain by diamictites of the Nguba Group. Both units form one allochthonous fragment removed from its original geological context and surrounded by breccias of the RAT.

The diamictites of the Nguba Group rest disconformably over the Mwashya Subgroup sediments and are referred to as the “grand conglomérat” stratigraphic formation. The contact is tectonically overprinted. The “grand conglomérat” consists of a massive unstratified, poly-lithic matrix supported breccia/conglomerate including well rounded, randomly distributed pebbles and boulders of quartzite, granites and schist. Its contact with Mwashya Subgroup is a concave surface (as mapped within the pit area and interpreted from drilling) that truncates ........

The mining activities will use industry standard drill, blast, load and haul techniques at all three mining locations. The mobile fleet deployed at each pit will include one to two excavators, haul trucks, dozers, frontend loaders, blasthole drill rigs and water trucks. The total fleet will also include explosive charge vehicles and light vehicles.

Mining activities will be conducted by mining contractor, where the contractor will supply all mining equipment, operations and maintenance personnel for the mining components of the operation.

All pits were generally designed with 25 m-wide dual lane ramps at a maximum gradient of 1:10 or 10% for ramps designed above the bottom 50 vertical metres of the pit base and 12 m-wide single lane ramps at a maximum gradient of 1:10 to the base of each pit.

Kipoi Central Design
The design was split into two stages to facilitate efficient scheduling of the open pit operations while also serving to defer waste mining in the earlier years of the open pit life. Both the Kipoi Central stages include a single 25 m ramp which exits the pit in the eastern extent of the pit, this being close to both the ore and waste tipping destinations.

Kileba Design
Kileba is designed as a single-stage pit, there being insufficient room to practically design another stage within the pit limits. The pit design includes a single ramp which is primarily located on the eastern pit wall and exits the pit towards t ........

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