The current mining method is longitudinal longhole retreat stoping, with sublevel intervals at 30 m spacing. The mine has been divided into seven mining horizons to allow for several simultaneously-active mining fronts.
As of October 2018, ramp development reaches a depth of approximately 1,130 m from surface while production had started in Horizon 5, on the 980 m Level.
The main infrastructure, including the production shaft, is located in the orebody hanging wall. There are four access points, consisting of the surface portal with an internal ramp, and three level accesses from the production shaft on the 400, 650 and 1140 m Levels.
Each level has electrical bays, sumps, ventilation accesses, backfill accesses, a refuge station and dumping bays. The main haulage drifts are located in the orebody hanging wall and are positioned 30 m from the expected ore contours. Ore access points (i.e. drawpoints) are situated about 100 m apart and each has a backslash at the intersection with the main haulage drift to allow for efficient truck loading.
The ramp is driven at a maximum gradient of -17% and is positioned to cross predicted faults in a perpendicular manner.
For mine scheduling purposes, the vertical extent of the orebody is subdivided into two parts: the upper part of the orebody located between 65 metres and 650 metres below surface (Upper Mine), and the lower part of the orebody located between 650 metres and 1,190 metr ........
