The mine utilizes a combination of selective longhole stoping, modified or stepped room and pillar and mechanized Cut and Fill as mining methods, based on the geometry and the grade of the mineralized zones:
- Longhole stoping (“LH”) for mining blocks dipping steeper than 45°, which represents about 50% of the mine plan tonnage. This is the preferred mining method from a productivity and operating cost perspective;
- Mechanized Cut and Fill (“C&F”), for mining blocks with dips of less than 45° and zones not amenable to LH stoping, is more selective and represents about 7% of the mine plan tonnage;
- Modified or Stepped Room and Pillar (“RP”), for mining blocks with dips of less than 45° and grades, do not warrant the application of a fill to permit multiple panel extraction, representing 11% of the mine plan tonnage.
The mine plan tons at the ESM deposit will be extracted using a combination of longitudinal retreat stoping (LGS), Cut and Fill (C&F), Panel Mining – Primary and Secondary (PAP & PAS), and development drifting underground mining methods with rock backfill. Longhole backstopes (BCK) are also used in the design where applicable. The proposed combined underground and open pit mine plan is expected to reach an initial target production rate of 1,200 t/d for 2021 and ramp up to 1,800 t/d in 2022. Open pit mining will be completed in Year three (2024). The overall mine life will be seven years.
Underground
The ESM deposit will ........
