Deposit Geology and Mineralisation
Significant mineralization identified on the property occurs within the Hod Maden Fault Zone, which at surface is a broadly north-northeast striking corridor of gossanous and locally argillic/phyllic hydrothermal alteration, up to 300 m wide, that extends for more than seven kilometres. Locally, it has intense pyrite/chalcopyrite mineralization with a significant component of supergene clay alteration.

The deposit is partitioned into a northern Main Zone and the contiguous South Zone, with the third area of mineralization located 500 m further south at the old Russian Mining area.

Main Zone: At least two styles of high-grade gold-copper mineralisation have been identified at the Main Zone:
(i) The predominant multiphase quartz-sulfide (pyrite-chalcopyrite) ± hematite/jasper breccia bodies; and
(ii) Semi-massive to massive sulphides (pyrite-chalcopyrite).

Prior to 1923, small-scale mining by Russian mining interests of narrow, high grade polymetallic veins was undertaken in the now-named old Russian Mining area. Ancient slags have also been intersected in alluvial material overlying the Main Zone. The two primary mineralisation styles are related to different mineralising events, with the semi to massive sulphide mineralisation representing an earlier mineralisation event and the multiphase breccia a later epigenetic (perhaps deep epithermal?) event. The Main Zone deposit is subvertical ........

The Hod Maden deposit will be mined entirely utilizing underground mining techniques to minimise disturbance on the surface where a mosque and burial ground are located directly above the deposit. The deposit consists of a main and southern area however very little economic mineralisation is currently modelled in the south area.

The underground mine will be divided into two distinct mining zones with a modified drift and fill (DAF) underground mining technique applied to the Poor Ground Zone (PGZ) above 780mRL (Upper Mine) and long hole stoping (LHS) applied to the more competent ground conditions below 780mRL (Lower Mine). The bulk of the mineralisation is located below 780mRL however gold and copper grades are highest above 780mRL and reduce with deposit depth.

The lower mine will be accessed through a single portal north of the deposit with secondary egress, fresh air intake and primary exhaust through vertical shaft development. The upper mine will be accessed through two shafts located north and south of the mineralisation.

The main area extends 450 m vertically from surface over a strike distance of approximately 300 m. For the lower mine level spacing will be 25 m and for the upper mine, DAF levels will be extracted primarily in 3m high increments.

The lower mine will use electric-hydraulic jumbos for excavation and ground support with diesel powered LHD loaders and articulated dump trucks for material handling. Gr ........

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The processing plant, will have the capability of treating 800,000 dry tonnes of underground ore per year (dry t/y) of gold bearing copper sulfide material over the life-of-mine (LOM). The plant design will incorporate crushing, grinding, and flotation techniques to maximise the recovery of copper and gold from the ore.

The ore to be processed has been classified into two main categories; Regular Ore and Pyrite Ore. The flowsheet will be reconfigured when processing Pyrite Ore to maximise the recovery of gold.

The Regular Ore flowsheet is summarised as:
- Primary ore crushing of ROM to produce a crusher product size of 80% passing 77 mm;
- Primary milling in closed circuit with hydrocyclones to produce an 80% passing 106 µm grind size;
- Bulk flotation of the primary ground material to generate a bulk concentrate. The bulk concentrate will be directed to the Regrind Circuit. The bulk flotation tails will be directed to the Secondary Grinding Circui ........