DEPOSIT TYPES
The Blanket orebodies comprise up to 10% of precious metals. The Blanket mineralisation is hydrothermally emplaced and associated with the regionally developed D2 deformation characterised by areas of high strain wrapping around relatively undeformed remnants of the original basaltic flows. Wider orebodies occur within the more ductile tensional high strain areas. Two main types of mineralisation are recognised at Blanket, namely Disseminated Sulphide Reefs (DSR) and quartz-filled reefs and shears. A third type of mineralisation may be evidenced in the form of auriferous sulphide minerals as a replacement of the iron-rich minerals along the hinges of the folds in BIF.

MINERALISATION
Mining at Blanket occurs over a 3 km strike that includes from north to south, the deposits of Lima, Eroica, Sheet, AR Main, AR South, Feudal, Blanket Section (Blanket 1 to Blanket 6) and Jethro. The main Blanket underground workings are connected to Lima by a 2 km long haulage which follows the strike of the main fabric.

Wall rock alteration typically comprises silica-pyrite-muscovite within a broader carbonate alteration halo. Quartz-carbonate altered rock forms the most commonly recognised alteration assemblage. Gold is deposited at crustal levels within and near the brittle-ductile transition zone at:
• depths of between 6 km and 12 km;
• pressures between 1 and 3 kilobars; and
• temperatures between 200ºC and 400ºC.

The d ........

Blanket Mine uses two mining methods which are well suited to the nature of the greenstone belt deposits. The orebodies range from generally steeply dipping sheet-like deposits of a few meters in width, to pipe-shaped and massive deposits with widths more than 50 m. The extreme variation within the Blanket Mine mineral deposits, necessitates modification of the exact mining methods that suits the specific characteristics of each mineral deposit The general practice on Blanket Mine is to implement one of two tailored mining methods, determined mainly by the width of the mineral deposit.

The two mining methods utilised are:
- Long-hole stoping in wider mineral deposits (orebody widths generally more than 3 m); and
- Underhand stoping in narrow mineral deposits (orebody widths generally less than 3 m).

Long-Hole Stoping
Blanket Mine uses long-hole stoping in the orebodies with a width greater than 3 m. It can also be applied in instances where the ground conditions render an area unsafe to be mined using conventional underhand stoping method. Long-hole stoping is a selective and highly productive mining method that provides good ore recovery. The method is flexible and allows for practical modifications to the mining sequence and configuration to suit the characteristics of the orebody. Long Hole drilling entails using drifter machines to drill holes which cover the full span of the sublevel interval and then blasting them. When the block has ........

- subscription is required.

- subscription is required.

- subscription is required.