The Study assumed a standard drill, blast, load and haul mining methodology which is well known and widely used in Western Australia.
Mining at Gum Creek will be undertaken by mining contractors, with personnel operating on a fly-in, fly-out out basis from Perth, with local residents employed where possible.
Production from Swan and Swift includes cutbacks to the existing open pits, while mining at Howards will be from a new open pit.
Swan:
- Minimum Mining Width – 4m downhole;
- Internal Dilution – 2m downhole;
- Edge Dilution - 1m either side downhole.
- High Grade Cuts:
- Oxide – 10g/t;
- Transitional – 20g/t;
- Fresh 200g/t.
- Pit Slope angles range from 35-45 degrees;
- Ramp widths range from 12-18m wide with a gradient of 1 in 9;
- Batter angles range from 70 degrees near the base to 55 degrees near the surface and berm heights of 20m with minimum berm widths of 7m.
Swif:
- Minimum Mining Width – 4m downhole;
- Internal Dilution – 2m downhole;
- Edge Dilution - 1m either side downhole;
- High Grade Cuts:
– Oxide – 20g/t;
- Transitional – 30g/t;
- Fresh 30g/t.
- Pit Slope angles range from 40-44 degrees;
- Ramp widths range from 12-18m wide with a gradient of 1 in 9;
- Batter angles range from 70 degrees near the base to 55 degrees near the surface and berm heights of 20m with minimum berm widths of 5m.
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