Dalradian’s Northern Ireland property has potential to host two distinct deposit types. Licences DG1, DG3,DG4, DG5 and DG 6 which includes the Curraghinalt gold deposits, has potential to host orogenic gold deposits. Licence DG2, underlain by the Tyrone Igneous Complex, has potential to host volcanic massive sulphide mineralization (VMS), as well as porphyry copper-gold, and irongold exhalites (Hollis et al., 2014; Hollis et al., 2015; British Geological Survey, 2016).

Orogenic Gold Deposits
Rice et al. (2016) noted that the timing of gold mineralization at Curraghinalt (ca. 462.7 – 452.8 Ma) closely followed peak metamorphism associated with the Grampian event of the Caledonian Orogeny. It is temporally linked with an extensional setting following orogenic uplift and collapse. Rice et al. (2016) concluded that Curraghinalt is more likely an orogenic (rather than intrusion related) gold deposit. Thus an orogenic gold deposit model best describes the Curraghinalt vein system.

Volcanic Massive Sulphide Deposit Model
The volcanic stratigraphy of the Tyrone underlying licence DG2 is a potential host to volcanic massive sulphide deposits. VMS deposits are syngenetic, stratabound, and in part stratiform accumulations of massive to semi-massive sulphide that form seafloor hydrothermal systems at or near the seafloor (Gibson et al., 2007; Galley et al., 2007). The deposits consist of two parts: a concordant massive sulphide lens (>60 percent sulphide ........

The FS mine plan is based on a ramp access underground mining operation producing and average of 1,400 t/d of ore from a blend of mining methods, including lateral development, cut & fill and longhole (i.e. longhole stoping, upper retreat and pillar recovery).

Initial mine development at Curraghinalt will take place from the existing exploration adit and from a newly ramp access which will be collared near the proposed process plant site. Mining methods selected for the Curraghinalt project were chosen to maintain mining flexibility and selectivity for the various anticipated ground conditions. The majority of Mineral Reserves will be mined by longhole open stoping (66% combined longhole, uppers and pillar recovery), plus 17% cut & fill and 17% from development in ore. The mine design will use 18 m sub-levels (floor to floor) and strike lengths averaging 15 m depending on geotechnical parameters. The average diluted stope width will be 1.6 m; however, widths can vary between 1.2 to 3.5 m. The minimum mining width is 1.0 m. Paste backfill, produced in a backfill plant located underground, will be made from a mixture of tailings and cement and will be the primary backfill material, with unconsolidated waste rock from development headings used where possible. An internal ore pass system will direct ore and waste to the haulage levels where diesel powered haul trucks will transport the material to surface via the main ramp that will daylight adjacent to the process ........

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