The Tamarack deposit will be mined using underground mining methods.
Different underground mining methods will be utilized for the deposits: bulk long hole mining
method for SMSU (consisting of an Upper and Lower SMSU) and selective drift-and-fill
method for the narrower MSU. The selected mining methods will provide flexibility and selectivity to ensure consistent feed blend to the process plant at a rate of 2,000 tpd.
Mining Method for the Upper and Lower SMSU
The mining method proposed for the Upper and Lower SMSU is transverse long hole open stoping with cemented paste backfill.
For the Upper and Lower SMSU ore bodies, mining will be progressed by means of the following steps:
- Mine levels [ [mL50] and [mL0] will be developed away from the shaft to reach the Upper SMSU. Levels [mL-115] and [mL-130] will be developed to reach the Lower SMSU;
- Declines (ramps) will be developed from each level, parallel to each of the Upper and Lower SMSU ore bodies. Following this, crosscuts will be developed into the orebodies, an overcut (for drilling and blasting) and an undercut (for loading and mucking) for each stope;
- Stopes will be mined in a “primary-secondary” sequence from the bottom levels and advancing upwards;
- A vertical slot parallel with the SMSU is developed from where fan drilling will be used to blast the trough. Blast holes are then drilled from an overcut therefore the overcut will be sil ........
