Pinargozu is an underground mining operation that is producing high-grade zinc oxide and sulphide material of direct shipping grade.
Production at the Pinargozu Mine for 2023 is forecasted to be zinc sulphide product at an average grade in excess of 50% zinc as direct shipping material.
90% of mining activity is via cut and fill(CAF) with the remaining 10% via shrinkage stoping. This flexibility is effective in response to changes in orebody geometry and technical limitations.
Production utilises semi mechanized CAF stoping by hand held phnomatic drillers, mini loaders and mini trucks, where the orebody is wider. Here, drifts are cut from the decline. In areas of narrower orebody geometry, a stope is driven flat with full wooden support and blasted material is mucked outside and the stope subsequently backfilled.
Some locations in the mine utilise shrinkage stoping, generally in areas where 1-3 m thick ore veins are limit the raises between drifts, to 2.0 x 2.0 m dimensions. The vein is blasted from the bottom to the top.
The Pinargozu mine has three zones defined, reflecting mining domains:
• The Upper Level (811 to 690 level), largely oxide material.
• The Middle Level (690 to 670 level), the transitional zone.
• The lower Level (670 to 550 level), fresh sulphide material.
The average dilution is 6% per wet tonne. There are good visible ore indicators.
The production schedul ........
