The current operations are planned as a series of three lifts (Lifts 1, 2, and 3). The relative elevation of these lifts and all underground infrastructure is expressed in mine height datum which is 5,000 m above AHD (i.e. 5,900 m mine Relative Level (RL) is equivalent to 900 m AHD). Lifts 1 and 2 are approximately 1,200–1,400 m high with their bases located at approximately 4650 mRL and 4450 mRL. Lift 3 sits below Lift 2 with a block height of 275 m and a base at the 4,175 mRL. Lift 1 refers to the following panel caves: PC1–1, PC1–2, PC1–4, PC5001. Lift 2 refers to the following panel caves: PC2, PC2–3, PC2–4 and PC2–5. Lift 3 refers to the following panel cave: PC 3–1.
Cadia East is accessed via two declines, the main access decline, and the conveyor decline.
The mining method involves inducing caving of the rock mass by undercutting a block of ore. Mining proceeds by progressively advancing an “undercut” level beneath the block of ore. Above the undercut level, the overlying host rocks are pre-conditioned using blasting and/or hydraulic fracturing, resulting in controlled fracturing of the ore block.
Following pre-conditioning of the overlying host rocks, broken ore is removed through an extraction level developed below the undercut level. The extraction level is connected to the undercut level by drawbells, through which the ore gravitates to drawpoints on the extraction level. The ore is removed by a load–haul–dump (LHD) fleet to ........
