Orion Minerals has granted P2 Mining, a subsidiary of South African mining contractor Newrak Mining, a six-month trial mining contract to conduct the early works trial underground mining programme at the Prieska Copper Zinc-Mine (PCZM) in the Northern Cape Province.
It said the trial mining will include 120m of footwall ramp development before gaining access to the high-grade supergene ore of the +105 block, as well as 150m of ore development along strike on either side of the major access as the primary in a cut-and-fill mining cycle.
"This is a tremendously exciting period for Orion as we move to active trial mining at Prieska and start our transition from developer to operating mining company,” said Orion chief executive Errol Smart.
“We have spent the past two months completing essential preparations, such as installing underground refuge chambers, upgrading the hoisting capacity of the emergency escape way to the surface, and sourcing and installing key ventilation equipment.”
Orion said the Newrak contract will also include the opening of the 143-level historical stope draw-points for selective loading and transportation to the surface of broken ore remaining in the stopes, to execute bulk sample and metallurgical testing on the material.
It said that, if successful, this operation will continue to develop a surface stockpile for future processing once the concentrator plant is operational.
Mathew Nyaungwa, Editor in Chief of the African Bureau, Rough&Polished
