The Mt Todd Batman project has been planned as an open-pit, truck and shovel operation. The truck and shovel method provides reasonable cost benefits and selectivity for this type of deposit. Only open-pit mining methods are considered for mining at Mt Todd.
Mine Production Schedule
Ore from the mine is to be sent from the pit directly to the crusher, or to a mill ore stockpile. During pre-stripping, highgrade, medium-grade, and low-grade ore will be stockpiled in the stockpile area northeast of the waste dump facility. Lowgrade ore is to be processed as part of commissioning the mill. This assumes a ramp up to full production of 25%, 50%, 75%, and 87.5% of full production throughput through the first 4 months (i.e., the commissioning and startup period) prior to start of full production. High-grade and medium-grade ore is processed in the mill when mill capacity becomes available and given priority over the processing of low-grade material.
For scheduling, three ore stockpiles are assumed:
- High-grade stockpile (>0.85 g Au/t);
- Medium-grade stockpile (0.55 to 0.85 g Au/t); and
- Low-grade stockpile (0.35 to 0.55 g Au/t).
The high-grade and medium-grade stockpiles are to be built within the low-grade stockpiling areas but will be exhausted during the first year of processing when mill capacity becomes available. During the life-of-mine, the low-grade stockpile is to be used to feed the mill to full capacity as needed. F ........