Overview
Stage | Production |
Mine Type | Open Pit |
Commodities |
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Mining Method |
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Production Start | ...  |
Mine Life | 2045 |
Mt Keith mine includes Concentrator, Mt Keith Mine, Mt Keith Satellite Mine (Yakabindie). Mt Keith Satellite Mine contains 2 open-pit mines: Six Mile Well and Goliath.
Disseminated sulphide ore is mined at the Mt Keith open-pit operation and Mt Keith Satellite mine (Yakabindie) and crushed and processed on-site to produce nickel concentrate.
BHP is assessing options to expand Mt Keith operations and have completed approximately 100 kilometres of development and exploration drilling in FY2023.
TransAlta has completed the construction of the Northern Goldfields Solar Project, a large-scale, off-grid mining solar and battery energy storage system, to help power Nickel West’s Mt Keith and Leinster operations. The project includes a solar farm at Mount Keith and a solar farm and battery energy storage system at Leinster. |
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p. 28,209
The Mt Keith Nickel Operation (NMK) is mine, wholly owned and operated by NiW (BHP Billiton Nickel West Pty Ltd), a subsidiary of BHP.
Contractors
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Deposit Type
- Intrusion related
- Magmatic
- Metamorphic
Summary:
Disseminated textured magmatic nickel-sulphide mineralisation associated with a metamorphosed ultramafic intrusion.
The stratigraphy in the Mt Keith region is composed of ultramafic sequences (olivine cumulates and thin spinifex textured flows), basalts, volcanic and volcanoclastic rocks and sedimentary rocks The ultramafic sequence at Mt Keith is lenticular It faces W, dips 80- 85, and has undergone low- to mid-greenschist metamorphism The major komatiitic rock types include sulphide-bearing olivine mesocumulate, olivine orthocumulate, talc-carbonate altered orthocumulates and a porphyry olivine rock The non sulphide mineralogy consists of hydrated Mg silicates (Iizardite, antigorite, chrysotile, talc), Mg oxy carboxyl hydroxides (brucite, stichtite, pyroaurite, iowaite), spinels (chromite, magnetite), carbonates (magnesite, dolomite), tremolite-actinolite and chlorite The disseminated sulphide mineralogy is dominated by pentlandite, with minor millerite, viola rite and pyrrhotite Trace amounts of pyrite, chalcopyrite, heazlewoodite, gersdorffite, polydymite, tochilinite, sphalerite and exsolved Co sulphides are also present.
Summary:
The mining of nickel sulphide ore through conventional open-cut mining methods, involving drill and blast and categorisation of blasted material into ore and waste rock.
Mt Keith Satellite Mine contains 2 open-pit mines: Six Mile Well in full production and Goliath currently being pre-stripped.
The expansion of the Mt Keith concentrator is possible because our Mt Keith Satellite development - 6 Mile Well and Goliath pits, go into full production rates and because in parallel, recommence mining operations in the long-standing Mt Keith pit.
The next stage of the Mt Keith pit - stage one - will provide a total of 88 million tonnes with steady state feed commencing from financial year 2024. This will involve a 50% increase in mining activity this financial year with new Liebherr 9600 and 9400 excavators being added to the fleet.
The Mt Keith Satellite Project is for a satellite mining operation as an extension to the existing Mt Keith Nickel Mine 1. The Project will comprise two Mine Pits, a Waste Rock Landform, Support Infrastructure, and a Haul Road.
BHP Nickel West commenced implementation of the Project in February 2019. 28 March 2023, implementation of the Project has included:
- Clearing and establishment of the initial operating areas (Haul Road, Mine Pits, Waste Rock Landform and Run of Mine Pad); and
- Continuation of productive mining of ore from both the Six Mile Well Mine Pit and commencement of mining f ........

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Summary:

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Reserves at June 30, 2023:
Cut-off criteria:
Mineral Resources: OC Disseminated Sulphide - Variable between 0.35%Ni and 0.40%Ni.
Ore Reserves: OC - 0.35%Ni
Category | Tonnage | Commodity | Grade |
Proven & Probable
|
239 Mt
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Nickel
|
0.63 %
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Total Resource
|
612 Mt
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Nickel
|
0.58 %
|
Source:

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Heavy Mobile Equipment as of August 3, 2021:
HME Type | Model |
Excavator
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.......................
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Excavator
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.......................
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Corporate Filings & Presentations:
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