TSX:LSG.DB - Post by User
Post by
goldhappyon Nov 10, 2012 10:55pm
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Post# 20585888
Grade
Grade Mining blocks are taken in a ground controlled sequence. It is very important to take care of the stresses throughout an orebody. This helps prevent ground bursts and severe unraveling of the foot and hanging walls. Scheduled and budget tonnage and mine grades are based on the Engineers mining sequence.When a bulk mining block runs empty it goes on a filling cycle. In high stress areas the empty stope must be filled before the blasting starts on another stope. If the next stope to open up is of a higher grade the filling cycle must run without delays or the mine scheduled grade will suffer. Mining is riddled with problems. Any delay of the higher grade muck will bring down the grade. Usually a catch up period begins later when the higher grade stope is brought on stream. Very common.
It sounds to me like they are tightening up the drill pattern. If the diamond drill holes are spaced too far apart a realistic grade is skewed. Drilling between the wide spaced holes adds more confidence to the block grade. Extra diamond drill holes are much cheaper than opening up mining blocks with dilution surprises.
Having spare blocks ready to go is risky because the production holes often squeeze and block off the ability to load powder. The risk is essential to avoid production delays. It's the managers call. That is where experience is needed. Computers can't answer the call. Lots of growing pains. Better to schedule and budget low and over deliver. I believe that is now the LSG strategy. GOOD !!!