It is proposed that T3 will be mined by a mining contractor, utilising a conventional truck and shovel (excavator) method with Sandfire maintaining orebody definition, quality control and medium to long-term mine planning functions and management.
The bench heights and equipment selection were reviewed in parallel with the dilution modelling and confirmed the 2.5 m flitch height for ore mining with blasting on 10 m benches.
Grade control drilling is proposed from 20 m vertical intervals in advance of mining with angled holes perpendicular to the orebody using RC drilling methods to minimise contamination.
In general terms, the mining method is:
• Clearing and stripping of suitable material from all disturbed areas into discrete stockpiles for later use in rehabilitation activities;
• Grade control drilling and systematic pit mapping to demarcate ore boundaries;
• Drilling and blasting of ore and waste on 10m benches using choked or semi-choked blasting methods to reduce dilution;
• Load and Haul utilising 250-tonne excavators and 140-tonne class haul trucks mining on ~2.5m high flitches in ore zones and ~3.5m high flitches in bulk waste zones;
• Direct dump of run-of-mine (RoM) ore delivered to the crusher or placed on stockpiles for future rehandle as required;
• Pit dewatering will be managed by a collection of internal and external dewatering and de pressurising bores and in-pit sumps for use within the mining ........
