Overview
Stage | Production |
Mine Type | Open Pit |
Commodities |
|
Mining Method |
|
Production Start | ...  |
Mine Life | 2033 |
Chifeng LXML Sepon is planning to build the first modern underground mine in Lao PDR, bringing transferrable expertise and special techniques to the country. Underground exploration will support the future of Sepon mine to contribute to the socio-economic growth of the Lao PDR beyond 2033. |
Source:
Lane Xang Minerals Limited (LXML) is the registered name of the company which owns and operates Sepon. Chifeng Jilong Gold Mining Co., Ltd owns 90 per cent of LXML. and the Lao Government owns 10%.
Contractors
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Summary:
The Sepon project area is situated near the eastern margin of the intra-continental Khorat Basin and on the western flank of the Anamite Range fold belt. It lies within the Troungson geological region covering a broad spectrum of rocks ranging in age from Upper Proterozoic to Jurassic. The regional geology is dominated by an Upper Palaeozoic sedimentary belt of arkosic and feldspathic sandstone, variably calcareous and carbonaceous siltstone, shale and limestone which is variably dolomitised and locally marble. There are lesser volcanic rocks, typically comprised of agglomerate, conglomerate, tuffaceous sandstone, and rare coherent volcanics. The belt is cut by plutonic to sub-volcanic bodies of granite, monzodiorite, granodiorite, quartz porphyry, rhyodacite porphyry (RDP) and andesite porphyry. The intrusive rocks are preferentially emplaced along either east or north-west trending well-developed structures.
Several styles of mineralisation have been recognised within the Sepon Mineral District: porphyry-like Cu-Mo-Au mineralisation, skarnoid Cu-Mo-Au mineralisation adjacent to porphyry intrusive, distal skarn related Cu-Au-Ag+/- Pb+/-Zn massive sulphide veins, Carlin type carbonate hosted gold mineralisation and carbonate hosted Mississippi Valley type Pb-Zn-Ag mineralisation. In addition weathering and supergene re-mobilisation has created supergene copper, exotic supergene copper, oxide gold and alluvial gold in karst fill deposits.
All primary depo ........

Summary:
Sepon mine is an open pit operation that is mining and processing supergene copper ore. The operation uses a fleet of excavators and articulated trucks along with a fleet of auxiliary equipment. This mining method is appropriate for the style and size of the mineralisation.
Pit optimisations and designs adhered to recommended geotechnical parameters. The inter-ramp slopes used range between 18° – 40° for the clay material and 35° – 50° for the more competent material.
Underground Exploration
With a mineral resource of 9.5 million tonnes and projected ore production to increase from 400,000 tonnes in 2023 to 1.2 million tonnes per annum thereafter, the “Discovery Deeps Underground Mine” is expected to extend Sepon’s mine life for at least another seven years, to 2030, contributing to poverty reduction and sustainable development in host communities.
The underground mine will extend 450 metres below the surface. The decline access tunnel will be more than 1,800m long, 5m high and 5m wide to accommodate modern underground excavation and drilling equipment.
Source:
Summary:

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Production:
Commodity | Product | Units | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Copper
|
Cathode
|
t
| ...... ^ | ......  | ......  | ......  | 71,258 | 62,941 | 78,492 |
Gold
|
Metal in doré
|
oz
| ...... ^ | ......  | ......  | | | | |
^ Guidance / Forecast.
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Operational Metrics:
Metrics | 2020 | 2019 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
Total tonnes mined
| ......  | 25 Mt | | | |
Ore tonnes mined
| ......  | | 1,335,942 t | 2,967,991 t | 1,847,827 t |
Tonnes milled
| ......  | | 3,149,317 t | 2,547,564 t | 2,116,501 t |
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Reserves at October 12, 2017:
Category | Tonnage | Commodity |
Proven & Probable
|
9.4 Mt
|
Copper
|
Proven & Probable
|
9.4 Mt
|
Gold
|
Total Resource
|
36.3 Mt
|
Copper
|
Total Resource
|
36.3 Mt
|
Gold
|
Commodity Production Costs:
| Commodity | Units | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 |
C1 cash costs
|
Copper
|
USD
|
1.59 / lb
|
1.32 / lb
|
1.06 / lb
|
Financials:
| Units | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 |
Revenue
|
M USD
|
|
391.9
|
390.8
|
EBIT
|
M USD
|
17.7
|
4.8
|
-36.7
|
EBITDA
|
M USD
|
|
119.2
|
101.5
|
Corporate Filings & Presentations:
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