Stoping commenced in 2022 at the Kearney Vein on two separate levels, with nine stopes mined and backfilled.
- Zone 1 is between 1,060- and 1,072-level north.
- Zone 2 is between 1,072- and 1,084-level south.
- Modified Avoca method of longhole open stoping is being used.
- Mucking is carried out using remote controlled LHD units.
- Backfill is a combination of cement aggregate fill, cement rock fill and waste rock.
By July 2022, the secondary egress raise was completed and commissioned and the first stope was opened and subsequently backfilled in Block 1 between the 1060 and 1072 levels. A second stoping block is now also being mined between 1072 and 1084 levels on the north end. The ramp below 1048 level has been restarted and will be driven to the 1036 level and then to lower levels.
Development drives on 1048 and 1060 levels are being mined on parallel lenses along strike. The company is currently evaluating options with a contractor to expedite the development to the Joshua vein to enable increased production from multiple working areas, which will bring significant benefit in late 2023 and onwards.
Mining plan (August 2023)
Mining contractor QME Mining Services (NI) Ltd. Ireland ("QME") would begin with development mining at the Kearney and Joshua veins for an expected period of 9 months, before anticipated ramp up to approximately 5,000 tonnes per month of both development and production (stope) min ........