The Iron Knob mining area (IKMA) lies at the northern end of the Middleback Ranges (MBR).

• Hosted within the Palaeoproterozoic Hutchison Group metasediments.
• Mineralization is within the Lower Middleback Iron Formation grades upwards from Carbonate Haematite to Jaspilite Haematite facies.
• Ore Formation is considered through passive supergene enrichment of Magnetite Banded Iron Formations.
• Strongest Enrichment within the LMIF Carbonate Facies – leading to complete replacement of carbonates in highest grade zones.
• The Metasediments have a history of complex deformation dominated by East – West compression.
• Mineralised zones are bounded to the East and West regional scale North – South Shear Zones.
• Multiple Stages of Archean amphibolite dykes cross cut both deposits and are influence on mineralisation and Geotechnical Parameters.

Middleback Ranges Hematite
Hematite in the MBR occurs as stratabound Palaeoproterozoic deposits of the Lower Middleback Iron Formation (LMIF), part of the Hutchison Group. The Hutchison Group forms part of the Cleve Subdomain of the Gawler Craton, and lies on its western edge. The Cleve Subdomain comprises tightly folded high-grade metamorphic rocks that are mainly derived from marine shelf sediments and mafic and acidic volcanics (Parker, 2012b).

Middleback Ranges Framework In the MBR, the Hutchison Group is composed of the Warrow Quartzite and the Middleback Subgroup. ........

Iron Knob Mining Area (IKMA), which incorporates the Iron Monarch and Iron Princess pits (East Princess and West Princess) and Monarch scree pits. Open cut mining methods have been/will be used to mine the Iron Princess, Iron Monarch and Monarch Scree resources. During 2022, Monarch Scree and Monarch Pit Cutback only mined. A cutback to access ore towards the base of Iron Monarch Pit recommenced on 1 March 2022. Mining of scree ore will supply feed to SIMEC’s Integrated Processing Facility (IPF). The scree ore will supplement the low-grade feed from dumps and on depletion of stocks, will replace the low-grade feed altogether. During Monarch Scree mining operations, feed to the IPF is expected to be approximately 135 wet mass kilotonnes per month. A significant stockpile of IPF feed (approximately 100 kilotonnes) will be maintained, in order to feed the processing facility during times of mining cessation, due to detrimental weather conditions or other causes. The proposed mining plan is to develop four (4) separate scree ore pits on the south-eastern slopes of the Monarch pit, with the two western scree pits located at the toe of existing waste dumps and embankments of disused haul roads. The proposed scree ore pit designs are relatively shallow and have varying geometry as follows: - A1 pit (NW pit – mns_a1) dimensions ~ 430m long × 155m wide × 20m deep; - A2 pit (NE pit mns_a2) dimensions ~ 220m long × 35m wide × 20m deep; - A3 pit (NE pit mns_a3) dimensions ~ 115m ........

- subscription is required.

- subscription is required.

- subscription is required.