The Tucano Gold Mine is a well-established open pit mining operation comprising four open pits, Urucum, Urucum East, TAP AB, and Duckhead.
Open pit mining is currently being undertaken by the mine contractor. In 2022, Great Panther engaged a new open pit mining contractor, Minax: Transportes e Construções Ltda (“Minax”) to initially operate in parallel with the existing contractor that is scheduled to cease activities at the end of year. Mobilization of the new mining contractor has already begun and will continue into mid-2022. The new contractor is a Brazilian company using a new mining fleet, which will contribute to an improvement in overall mine performance. In addition to earthmoving responsibilities for both waste and ore, the contractors are responsible for production drilling, pre-shear drilling, pit dewatering, ore re-handle, crusher feed, maintenance and supervision of their fleet of equipment.
Haulage ramps were designed at 12 m width for 30 m³ class trucks and two-way traffic. For the final four benches in the bottom of the final pit design, the haul road was narrowed to a width of 10 m, suitable for single-lane traffic. The maximum ramp gradient is 10%. All roads required a cap of crushed rock to facilitate all-season use.
Pits were designed with 4 m operating bench heights. For pits with catch benches at 12 m intervals and increased to 6 m wide (previously 4 m) to assist maintenance. It may be possible in some higher elevation a ........
