The zinc-lead-silver mineralization of the Florida Canyon deposit occurs as sulfides hosted in dolomitized zones of the Chambara 2 Formation. Dolomite paragenesis and later sulfide mineralization are controlled by a combination of porosity, permeability and structural preparation. Metals occur in sphalerite and lesser galena, which contains silver. Minor mineralization is hosted in limestones, but the bulk of sphalerite and galena is hosted in dolomite.

In a number of core samples, the mineralization has very sharp contacts along the dolomitization boundary. Characteristic mineralization textures include massive and disseminated mantos, mineralization in dissolution breccias, collapse breccias and pseudobreccias. The different breccias and vein types are structurally controlled by faults of north-south and northeast- southwest direction.

The mineralization is characterized by the presence of sphalerite, galena and locally pyrite. Sulfide replacements occur in dolomitized limestone of variable grain sized and in solution breccias with white dolospar and lesser amounts of late generation calcite. Pyrite content is generally low, with percentages averaging less than 2% by volume. Sphalerite in mineralized sections has variable grain size from 0.1 to greater than 5 mm, with colors ranging from dark brown through reddish brown to light brown. It occurs as individual crystals or in massive form, sometimes displaying colloform textures with bands of sli ........

Various factors are considered in the selection of an appropriate mining method to exploit a mineralized zone. The factors include, but are not limited to, the geometry, depth, mineralogy, continuity of mineralization, geotechnical conditions, hydrological conditions, value of the mineral, and environmental factors. Considering these parameters for the Florida Canyon project, the following underground methods are suitable for application.

• Sublevel Stoping (Longhole Stoping) for the steeply dipping bodies identified as F1 and SAM.
• Mechanized Cut and Fill for the moderate dipping bodies.
• Drift and Fill for the flat to moderate dipping bodies where more than one cut is required due to the width of the zone.

Approximately 26% of the mining resource will be mined using longhole stoping in the SAM and F1 areas with the remaining mined using mechanized drift and fill and cut and fill. Cemented paste fill and cemented rock fill will be used to backfill primary stopes. Mine development waste will be used in secondary stopes with some secondaries backfilled with low content cemented paste fill where required.

Longhole Stoping
Sublevels in the longhole areas will be developed at 16 m intervals. Stopes less than 8 m wide will be mined longitudinally (along strike) with stopes greater than 8 m wide mined transversely (perpendicular to strike). Ramp, main haulage, and cross-cut development will be in the footwall. Haulage drifts have ........

- subscription is required.

- subscription is required.