The Simberi Gold Project is located on Simberi Island in the Tabar Islands Group situated in the New Ireland Province of Papua New Guinea (PNG), approximately 80 km north-west of Lihir Island. Simberi is the oldest and northernmost island of the Tabar Group. It measures approximately 10 km east-west, 8 km north-south and rises to over 300 m above sea level. The currently known gold prospects (Sorowar, Pigiput, Pigibo, Botlu, Pigicow, Samat, Bekou and Monun Creek) on Simberi Island are located in the eastern half of the island within the central volcanic core. They are contained within a sub-cropping epithermal alteration system and structural corridor extending 4km north-south and 2km east-west. The host rocks for the mineralisation comprise Pliocene altered alkaline lava flows or intrusives (porphyries), volcaniclastics and tuffs.

Of the eight separate deposits, Pigiput in the south is by far the largest gold resource. Monun Creek is located immediately to the north-east of Pigiput, with Sorowar, the second largest resource, further north again. Pigibo, Botlu, Samat and Bekou lie to the west and south of Pigiput, and while relatively small, are relatively higher grade. All deposits lie within 2 to 3km of each other. Sorowar, Pigiput and Botlu are currently being mined via open pit methods.

Fine grained free gold in oxide material is the target of current operations. Within the sulphide zone gold is also fine grained (most grains are under 15 µm in diam ........

Of the eight separate deposits, Pigiput in the south is by far the largest gold resource. Monun Creek is located immediately to the north-east of Pigiput, with Sorowar, the second largest resource, further north again. Pigibo, Botlu, Samat and Bekou lie to the west and south of Pigiput, and while relatively small, are relatively higher grade. All deposits lie within 2 to 3km of each other. Sorowar, Pigiput and Botlu are currently being mined via open pit methods.

The mining method for all deposits is open pit, using 5 m flitches and 20 m benches. The principal pieces of digging equipment are four Hitachi 1200 excavators, matched with a mixed fleet of CAT 740 and BELL 50D articulated dump trucks.

All material within the marked out block, regardless of oxidation state, is delivered to ROM stockpiles, either at the Sorowar Feeder, for the rope conveyor, or to the Mill. The 365 tph rope conveyor from the Sorowar Feeder to the Mill ROM pad is an integral part of the mining process flow at Simberi; as is the downhill trucking that HBS conducts using Astra haul trucks to bring an additional 700 kt to 1 Mt per annum to the Mill ROM.

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