Mining Intelligence and News
Australia

Malu (OP) Mine

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Categories

Overview

Mine TypeStockpile
StatusActive
Commodities
  • Copper
  • Gold
  • Silver
Mining Method
  • Truck & Shovel / Loader
Production Start... Lock
Mine Life... Lock
SnapshotMalu mine is a part of the Prominent Hill Operation. Malu Open Pit Mineral Resource was fully depleted, with the Open Pit mining operations completed in March 2018. Since 2 quarter 2018, previously stockpiled ore has been processed.

As of August 2024, mining contractor Thiess signed a contract extension at Prominent Hill(The initial agreement of 23 months, with a possibility of two 6-month extensions) which will see the continued implementation of ROM services and stockpile management.
Related AssetProminent Hill Operation

Owners

SourceSource
CompanyInterestOwnershipInvestor's Info
BHP Group Ltd. 100 % Indirect
BHP Group Ltd. has 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). 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.

The Prominent Hill Open Pit Mineral Resource was fully depleted, with the Open Pit mining operations completed in March 2018.

Since 2 quarter of 2018, previously stockpiled ore has been processed.

The ROM stockpiles have been classified as Measured because they have been mined from zones that have been drilled to grade-control spacing. Mining production and reclaim records in conjunction with ROM surveys have supported the construction of open pit ROM stockpile block models at a monthly level of definition.

Reserves

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Mining Methods

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Comminution

Crushers and Mills

Milling equipment has not been reported.

Processing

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Production

CommodityUnits2020201920182017
Copper kt  ....  Subscribe728883
Gold koz  ....  Subscribe130124129
Silver M oz  ....  Subscribe0.60.70.8
All production numbers are expressed as metal in ore.

Operational metrics

Metrics202020192018201720162015
Tonnes processed  ....  Subscribe6.9 Mt7.2 Mt7.4 Mt8.8 Mt8.8 Mt
Stripping / waste ratio  ....  Subscribe1 3.1
Ore tonnes mined  ....  Subscribe15.1 Mt

Production Costs

Commodity production costs have not been reported.

Operating Costs

Currency2016
OP mining costs ($/t mined) AUD  ....  Subscribe
OP mining costs ($/t milled) AUD  ....  Subscribe

Heavy Mobile Equipment

Fleet data has not been reported.

Personnel

Mine Management

Job TitleNameProfileRef. Date
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Sep 3, 2024
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Sep 3, 2024
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Sep 3, 2024
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Sep 3, 2024
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Sep 3, 2024

Aerial view:

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