Goltsovoye is a typical narrow-vein deposit of multiple ore bodies with an average width of 4.6 m. In addition to silver, the ore also contains amounts of lead as well as traces of zinc and copper. The distribution of silver in the veins and geometry of ore bodies is highly irregular and requires a substantial amount of in-fill drilling to convert resources to reserves. Most ore bodies have a medium dip (35 to 45 degrees). They can be traced for up to 565 m along strike and are open down dip. The major ore minerals are sulphides, including galena, freibergite, and other silver sulphides.

Underground conditions at Goltsovoye are generally favourable, with competent host rock. The ore is of variable competency, with some weak stopes closer to the surface. All underground workings are located in permafrost, with limited support being provided by steel anchors and wire mesh. The mining methods include sub-level open stoping (50 per cent. of ore, used for steeply dipping relatively wide ore bodies), shrinkage stoping (25 per cent., steeply dipping narrow veins), longwall mining (15 per cent., shallow-dip narrow veins) and inclined room-and pillar (10 per cent., shallow-dip wide ore bodies).

The Omsukchan concentrator uses conventional sulphide flotation technology, with each section designed to treat different types of feedstock. To achieve optimal results, extensive geotechnological testing is employed to determine the suitability of a particular ore for one of the sections and to assist in the selection of technological parameters (feed rate and reagent addition).

Section 1 is designed to treat simple metallurgical ores from the Dukat mine which typically yield higher recoveries with lower reagent consumption and generate concentrate that is amenable to cyanidation. The processing circuit comprises three-stage grinding (one SAG mill and two ball mills) followed by flash flotation and conventional flotation.

Section 2 is designed to treat ores that are technically more complicated, including feedstock from Goltsovoye, Lunnoye and old stockpiles. The processing circuit comprises two-stage grinding (one SAG mill and one ball mill) followed by gravity ........