The open pit and underground mining potential of Cameron was evaluated. The evaluation concluded that the most viable economic option was initial open pit mining to a maximum vertical depth of 250 m, followed by underground mining.
Only open pit mining was considered for Dubenski. Dubenski is located approximately 7 km from Cameron and lies between two lakes.
At Cameron an existing decline has been developed with dimensions of 12 ft (3.6 m) x 16 ft (4.9 m) at a 15% (approximately 1:7) gradient from the surface to 800 ft (244 m) below the surface. Mineralisation access was developed at 365 ft (111 m), 490 ft (149 m) and 685 ft (209 m) levels.
Open pit mining will use a conventional open pit truck and excavator method. All material will be drilled and blasted on 10 m benches, and excavated on 2.5 m flitches using nominally a 250 t excavator and 90 t haul trucks.
The Cameron pit is approximately 1,000 m long, 450 m wide and 240 m deep. The pit consists of a main southern pit, with a smaller independent, northern section (110 m deep). The pit design contains four stages. There are two stages (Stages 1 and 2) within the main southern pit (Stage 3) and the north pit (Stage 4).
Separate ramps were designed for the south and north pit areas to provide operational flexibility. The pit design was based on 90 t class trucks for the majority of the pit, reducing to narrow working areas at the pit base, where smaller trucks will b ........
