Overview
Stage | Production |
Mine Type | Underground |
Commodities |
|
Mining Method |
- Sub-level open stoping (SLOS)
- Cemented paste backfill
|
Production Start | ... |
Mine Life | 2038 |
Prominent Hill produces one of the highest grades of copper concentrate in the world. Prominent Hill was first developed as an open-pit mine, however, mining activities are currently principally underground.
In 2023, Tuuka, the main access decline that enables shaft sinking, continued to progress. Shaft works advanced, including shaft pre-sinking with the pilot hole complete and back reaming underway. Headframe lift is anticipated in early FY2024. The installation of underground primary ventilation fans was completed. |
Source:
p. 29,188,213
OZ Minerals Ltd. indirectly owns 100% interest in the Prominent Hill operation through its wholly owned subsidiary OZ Minerals Prominent Hill Operations Pty Ltd.
On May 2, 2023, BHP announced the completion of the OZ Minerals acquisition and implementation of the scheme of arrangement for BHP Lonsdale Investments Pty Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of BHP Group Limited, to acquire 100% of the shares in OZ Minerals Limited (OZL) (the Scheme). BHP Group Limited is now the ultimate parent company of OZL.
Contractors
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Deposit Type
- Breccia pipe / Stockwork
- IOCG
Summary:
The Prominent Hill iron oxide copper gold (IOCG) deposit is located in the northeastern portion of the Archaean to Mesoproterozoic Gawler Craton, South Australia. Copper-gold-silver mineralisation at Prominent Hill is mostly hosted within hematitematrix breccia containing fragments of sandstone, siltstone, dolostone, and mafic to intermediate volcanic rocks. Copper mineralisation occurs as disseminations of chalcocite, bornite and chalcopyrite in the matrix of the breccia.
Mineralisation generally has a tabular geometry. Most but not all copper mineralisation is hosted in hematite breccia. Gold mineralisation is commonly coincident with copper mineralisation, but some zones of gold-only mineralisation do exist. Copper grades generally show better spatial continuity within hematite breccia than within other rock types. Barren dykes cross cut the mineralisation. Barren covering sediments overlie the mineralised basement rocks.
The current maximum extent of the reported Mineral Resource is 2,600m (east-west) by 1,400m (vertical). Multiple lenses exist within a mineralised zone having a plan width (across strike) of approximately 300-400m. Only a subset of this mineralised zone has sufficient continuity of grade to have been reported as a Mineral Resource. The upper and lower limits of the reported Mineral Resource are 100m and 1,462m respectively below the pre-mining topographic surface.
Mining Methods
- Sub-level open stoping (SLOS)
- Cemented paste backfill
Summary:
Prominent Hill is a copper, gold and silver mine located 650 km northwest of Adelaide in South Australia and comprise:
-Open pit mine (Malu) - which concluded operations in Q1 2018;
-Surface ore stockpiles - being in operation since Q2 2018;
-Underground mine (Ankata and Malu mine areas);
-Conventional crushing, grinding and flotation Processing Plant.
Surface operations to rehandle stockpiles are carried out by mining contractor.
The Prominent Hill Underground Mineral Resource is being mined successfully using sub-level open stoping (SLOS) with cemented fill. Access to the ore body and ore haulage is carried out via decline (ramp) system. Operations are performed by mining contractor.
On August 18, 2021, The OZ Minerals Board approved construction of a hoisting shaft at the Prominent Hill copper-gold mine in South Australia, paving the way for a mine life extension and throughput expansion.
Sinking of the shaft is expected to commence in the March quarter of 2022. Mining and installation of underground and surface infrastructure is scheduled for completion along with commissioning of the Wira shaft at the end of 2024, with nameplate capacity expected in H1 2025.
OZ Minerals announced the decision to increase the hoisting shaft capacity under construction at Prominent Hill from 6Mtpa to 6.5Mtpa. The Wira Shaft mine expansion project was approved in August 2021 with works well progressed and scheduled ........
Source:
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Flow Sheet:
Summary:
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Pipelines and Water Supply
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Production:
Commodity | Product | Units | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 |
Copper
|
Metal in concentrate
|
t
| ...... ^ | ...... | ...... | ...... | ...... | 110,111 | 112,008 |
Gold
|
Metal in concentrate
|
oz
| ...... ^ | ...... | ...... | ...... | ...... | ...... | ...... |
Copper
|
Concentrate
|
kt
| | ...... | ...... | ...... | ...... | 260 | |
Silver
|
Metal in concentrate
|
oz
| | ...... | ...... | ...... | ...... | ...... | |
^ Guidance / Forecast.
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Operational Metrics:
Metrics | 2023 | 2022 | 2021 | 2020 | 2019 | 2018 |
Ore tonnes mined
| ...... | ...... | ...... | ...... | 3,365,932 t | 5,132,570 t |
Tonnes milled
| ...... | ...... | ...... | ...... | 9,807,885 t | 9,830,063 t |
Annual milling capacity
| ...... | ...... | ...... | ...... | 10 Mt | |
Waste
| ...... | ...... | ...... | ...... | 951,444 t | 1,443,016 t |
Total tonnes mined
| ...... | ...... | ...... | ...... | 4,317,376 t | 6,575,586 t |
^ Guidance / Forecast.
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Reserves at June 30, 2023:
Mineral Resources: UG Sulphide Cut-off based on NSR value of A$48/t, being life of mine break-even cutoff of A$57/t multiplied by a factor of 0.83. An NSR of A$48/t is equivalent to 0.52%Cu, 0.36g/tAu and 1.7g/tAg. SP Sulphide & SP Low-grade Cut-off based on NSR value of A$17/t which is inclusive of re-handling and processing costs.
Ore Reserves: UG Sulphide Cut-off varies with material handling requirements and is between NSR value of A$65-75/t. SP Sulphide & SP Low-grade Cut-off based on NSR value of A$17/t which is inclusive of re-handling and processing costs.
Mineral Resources are reported inclusive of Mineral Reserves.
Category | OreType | Tonnage | Commodity | Grade |
Proven & Probable
|
Stockpiles
|
6.6 Mt
|
Copper
|
0.18 %
|
Proven & Probable
|
In-Situ (UG)
|
54 Mt
|
Copper
|
0.99 %
|
Proven & Probable
|
Stockpiles
|
6.6 Mt
|
Gold
|
0.5 g/t
|
Proven & Probable
|
In-Situ (UG)
|
54 Mt
|
Gold
|
0.64 g/t
|
Proven & Probable
|
Stockpiles
|
6.6 Mt
|
Silver
|
0.52 g/t
|
Proven & Probable
|
In-Situ (UG)
|
54 Mt
|
Silver
|
3 g/t
|
Total Resource
|
Stockpiles
|
6.6 Mt
|
Copper
|
0.18 %
|
Total Resource
|
In-Situ (UG)
|
162 Mt
|
Copper
|
0.94 %
|
Total Resource
|
Stockpiles
|
6.6 Mt
|
Gold
|
0.5 g/t
|
Total Resource
|
In-Situ (UG)
|
162 Mt
|
Gold
|
0.81 g/t
|
Total Resource
|
Stockpiles
|
6.6 Mt
|
Silver
|
0.52 g/t
|
Total Resource
|
In-Situ (UG)
|
162 Mt
|
Silver
|
3 g/t
|
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