Mining Intelligence and News
Australia

Ankata/Malu (UG) Mine

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Categories

Overview

Mine TypeUnderground
StatusActive
Commodities
  • Copper
  • Gold
  • Silver
Mining Method
  • Sub-level open stoping (SLOS)
Backfill type ... Lock
Production Start... Lock
Mine Life... Lock
SnapshotThe Ankata/Malu underground mines are the part of Prominent Hill Operation.

The Prominent Hill Operations Expansion to extend mine life and increase copper production continues works to construct and commission the 6.5 Mtpa ore capacity Wira Shaft. As of 2024, shaft works advanced and the shaft sink is approximately 35% complete at a depth of approximately 450 metres.

The Wira Shaft will enable the electrification of the ore haulage system and is one of the ways Prominent Hill will achieve the decarbonisation commitments set out in Decarbonisation Roadmap.
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.

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.

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  ....  Subscribe535145
Gold koz  ....  Subscribe485534
Silver M oz  ....  Subscribe0.30.30.3
All production numbers are expressed as metal in ore.

Operational metrics

Metrics202020192018201720162015
Tonnes processed  ....  Subscribe2.7 Mt2.8 Mt2.1 Mt2 Mt1.6 Mt
Ore tonnes mined  ....  Subscribe2.1 Mt1.9 Mt

Production Costs

Commodity production costs have not been reported.

Operating Costs

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

Heavy Mobile Equipment

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EV - Electric
AV - Autonomous

Personnel

Mine Management

Job TitleNameProfileRef. Date
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Sep 2, 2024
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Sep 3, 2024
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Sep 2, 2024
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Sep 2, 2024
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Sep 3, 2024

Aerial view:

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