Kamoa-Kakula sets new underground development record with 2,069 meters
Ivanhoe Mines Co-Chairs Robert Friedland and Yufeng “Miles” Sun announced on October 1 that underground development at the Kamoa-Kakula Copper Project totaled 2,069 meters in September, setting a new monthly record for the project and driving development. underground total more than 22.6 kilometers – about 7.0 kilometers, or 44% ahead of schedule, a company statement reported.
The monthly project total of 2,069 meters of underground development includes 1,696 meters at the Kakula mine and 373 meters at the Kansoko mine, which is located at the Kamoa deposit – about 10 kilometers north of the Kakula mine.
Several underground development heads at the Kakula mine have now transitioned to the higher grade ore zones near the center of the deposit, grading between approximately + 5% copper and + 8% copper. October will be the first month to extract the high-grade Kakula ore from the southern access roads, and this ore will be stored on a separate high-grade surface stock near the southern descent. Mining on the north side of the deposit will also soon cross the higher grade ore, according to the company.
It is noted that less than 520 meters remain at the main access routes between the northern and southern declines before connecting to the high-grade center of the deposit. The connection is expected to take place next month and will significantly increase ventilation in the center of the deposit, allowing additional mining crews to begin work in the high-grade areas of Kakula.
In addition to piloting the main connection access routes, Kakula’s underground mining teams are focusing on preparation work for the development of high-grade stop blocks, drift and backfill in the center of the deposit, where the average content can reach + 8% copper.
The underground development of the Kansoko mine is currently located in zones of low to medium grade ore, at a grade between about + 2% and + 3% copper, says Ivanhoe Mines. Kansoko is being developed by training teams and will be an additional source of ore when the Kakula concentrator’s processing capacity doubles to 7.6 Mtpy – currently slated to be commissioned in the second quarter of 2022.
A stock of 803,000 tonnes of pre-production surface minerals
In September, mining crews from the Kakula and Kansoko mines produced and hauled about 132,000 tonnes of ore to the surface, bringing the project’s total preproduction ore stocks to about 803,000 tonnes (pictured). Ore production in September is about 24% higher than in August.
Ore mined from the northern part of the Kakula mine is hauled to surface via the conveyor system and placed on a mixed surface stockpile which now contains 540,000 tonnes grading an estimated 3.73% copper; Consisting of 125,000 tonnes of high grade 6.00% copper ore and 415,000 tonnes of medium grade 3.05% copper ore.
Two other preproduction ore stocks are located at the Kakula Sud descent (approximately 168,000 tonnes at 2.73% copper) and at Kansoko (approximately 95,000 tonnes at 2.34% copper).
“The new underground record set in September puts development progress months ahead of schedule,” said Mark Farren, CEO of Kamoa Copper. “With each passing month, our mining and engineering teams are increasingly convinced that the predicted mining productivity rates used in our engineering studies are conservative – a testament to the concentration and dedication of the project’s mining teams as well. that of the remarkable coherence of the Kakula and Kansoko Ore Bodies. “
“The next major step in mine development will be the junction of the north and south access roads, which is scheduled for November. Once this is done, the opening and rim of the drift and backfill blocks can begin in the high grade core of the deposit, where the average grade is up to + 8% copper, ”added Mr. Farren.
First copper production expected in less than a year
Initial production at the Kakula mine processing plant is scheduled for the third quarter of 2021. Kakula is expected to be the world’s leading highest grade copper mine, with an initial mining rate of 3.8 Mtpa at an average feed grade estimated at over 6.0% copper over the first five years of operation. Kakula is the first of multiple planned high-grade mining areas on the 400 square kilometer Kamoa-Kakula mining permit.
The Kakula mine will have one of the most favorable environmental footprints of any premier copper mine in the world. The mine will be powered by clean, renewable hydroelectricity and will be among the lowest emitters of greenhouse gases in the world per unit of copper produced. Kakula will also have a relatively small surface footprint, as approximately 55% of the mine tailings will be re-injected into underground workings.
Meanwhile, Ivanhoe Mines announces that all long-lead equipment for the initial 3.8 Mtpa Kakula processing plant has now been delivered to the site, with the exception of the transformers, which are currently on their way and expected to be the third week of October.
