Operations

Mining

Mining operations at the Lanfranchi Project during the year were conducted on four separate orebodies; Lanfranchi, Helmut South, Winner and Deacon. Decline development to access the high-grade Helmut South Orebody commenced in May 2005, with first ore delivered to surface in September 2005. The Helmut South Orebody was mined using the underhand cut and fill mining method with paste and has now been virtually mined out.

The small but high-grade Winner Orebody was developed by the Company in 2006 with first ore being delivered in 2007.  Mining of the Winner Orebody was completed in September 2009.

The $15 million Deacon Ventilation Project was completed in February 2009 following the successful commissioning of the $4 million ventilation fan. Over a planning and construction period lasting two years, two 4.5 metre diameter raisebore holes (910 metres in total) and over 1,000 metres of lateral development were completed. The raiseboring, lateral development, and ventilation fan installation were completed within a month of the original target date.  The completion of the ventilation system sets up the Lanfranchi Mine for the next ten years and beyond.

Production at Deacon ramped up during 2009 using a combination of longhole open stopes and underhand cut and fill mining methods utilising paste.  Based on the new Life of Mine Plan, it is anticipated that the Deacon Decline development will be completed by 2012, which will provide full access to the Deacon Orebody and greater production flexibility. 

All mining activities are owner operated, which provides financial benefits in terms of productivity and cost efficiency, and maintains and develops in-house underground mining expertise and capability.