The T3 deposit occurs within the Ghanzi-Chobe belt in Western Botswana. The stratigraphy in this belt comprises the basal Kgwebe Formation volcanic lithofacies unconformably overlain by the Ghanzi Group sedimentary lithofacies.

The Ghanzi Group is a dominantly siliciclastic marine sedimentary group comprising (in successively higher stratigraphic order) the Kuke, N’gwako Pan, D’Kar and Mamuno Formation sedimentary lithofacies. The Ghanzi Group is an overall fining-upwards succession of sedimentary lithofacies, with sandstone and conglomerates of the Kuke Formation overlain by arkose, siltstone, shale and limestone of the N’Gwako Pan, D’Kar and Mamuno Formations.

The T3 deposit is focused on a NE-SW trending periclinal anticline with a core of N’Gwako Pan Formation that is overlain by a succession of D’Kar Formation sediments. The axial region of the anticline has been breached along a moderately northwest dipping brittle-ductile thrust zone such that moderately northwest dipping D’Kar Formation lithofacies in the hanging-wall of the thrust zone rest with angular contact upon sub-horizontal lithofacies in the footwall.

The T3 Mineral Resource has been defined along an approximate 2km long strike length and 720m downdip and mineralisation remains open at depth. Mineralisation strikes and dips parallel to a 20 30 degree north-west dipping thrust zone, and is considered to be a structurally hosted, epigenetic deposit that formed synchronous with r ........

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 ........

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