Mining Intelligence and News
Australia

Ankata/Malu (UG) Mine

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Categories

Summary

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 (PHOX) project reached a key milestone in Q4 FY 2025, with the completion of the Wira Shaft sink. The project is expected to extend the mine life to at least 2040 and is on track to come online in the second half of FY2027.

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.

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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Heavy Mobile Equipment

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EV - Electric
AV - Autonomous

Comminution

Crushers and Mills

Milling equipment has not been reported.

Processing

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Commodity 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

Personnel

Mine Management

Job TitleNameProfileRef. Date
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Sep 24, 2025
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Sep 24, 2025
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Sep 24, 2025
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Sep 24, 2025

Workforce

Aerial view:

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