The mining method selected for the Project is a conventional open pit operation with off-highway haul trucks, hydraulic excavators, and wheel loaders.
The Project consists of three (3) separate pits (Pit A, Pit B, and Pit C) with one (1)waste dump designed close by to reduce haulage distance.
The mineralised material and waste rock will be loaded into off-highway haul trucks with excavators and/or wheel loader.
To properly manage water infiltration into the pits, sumps will be established at the lowest point of each pit floor. Water collected in the sumps will be pumped to a collection point at surface.
Samapleu mineralised material, contained into three (3) pits, are intended to be mined by surface operations. It is estimated that approximately 44.42Mt of mineralised material is extractable over a 20-year mine life.
The mine will operate year-round, seven (7) days per week, twenty-four (24) hours per day (2 shifts, 12 hours each). Since the mill will operate seven (7) days per week, a run of mine stockpile will be maintained to provide a constant supply of feed to the crusher with a minimum of one (1) month of production capacity. During the days when the mine is not operating (for technical or weather reasons), the crusher will be fed by the front-end loader from the stockpile or with a production truck. The mine fleet requirements and manpower are based on this work schedule.
Mine Design Engineering (MDEng) ........