High-grade nickel sulphide deposits at Lanfranchi occur as ribbon-like shoots at the base of high magnesium komatiite lava flows or channels. The shoots and high-magnesium lava flows occupy channel structures developed in the underlying Lunnon (footwall) basalt. Above the high-magnesium komatiite flows is a thick sequence of progressively less magnesium-rich komatiite flows. Ten channel structures are recognised at Lanfranchi of which six have been mined historically.

Historically, the majority of the ore has been mined via long-hole open stoping, which is a highly mechanised and low cost method. Using this method, access to the top and bottom of the ore block is established with tunnels, a slot raise is created, and holes are then drilled to blast the ore block. Once the ore block has been blasted and extracted, the stopes are filled with paste (tailings and cement mix) to stabilise the void and allow extraction of adjoining ore blocks.

The nickel ore is trucked and treated at BHP Billiton Nickel West's Kambalda nickel concentrator under an Ore Tolling and Concentrate Purchase Agreement.