Ari’s release of May 23 I think this info has already been reported, but the scope and plans of Aris to expand exploration to
2 km may be horizontal but it is unclear if they will mine vertical into EOM property which is probably more lucrative. Unclear if we can stop them.
"Table 1: Key project optimizations to be evaluated in the new PFS
Optimized There are two main parallel mineralized zones at underground mining PSN and each has a strike length of approximately strategy prioritizes 2.0 km. The revised underground mining strategy initial access to a prioritizes initial access to the higher grade higher grade zone zone, which can be quickly accessed from an existing portal. The revised plan is expected to sustain a mining rate approaching 2.0 million tonnes of mill feed and waste per year. -------------------------- -------------------------------------------------- Change of mining The mining method for the Feasibility Study was method modified Avoca, which required a significant amount of additional waste, sourced from underground waste quarry stopes, to provide backfill and a base for mining. The proposed mining method for the new PFS is long hole open stoping (LHOS) targeting higher grade stopes in the upper levels of the mine early in the mine life and utilizing pillars for support in the first stage of mining. Paste backfill will be utilized in the second stage of mining while the support pillars are systematically extracted. -------------------------- -------------------------------------------------- Defer underground After installation of the paste fill plant, the paste fill plant mining method is proposed to change to LHOS and paste fill, to increase overall mining recovery while reducing the upfront capital requirement. -------------------------- -------------------------------------------------- Smaller processing The proposed processing plant is expected to have plant a 2,750 tpd capacity, approximately 60% smaller than the Feasibility Study design, with a longer operating life. -------------------------- -------------------------------------------------- Aerial ropeway Elimination of the 6.9 km tunnel, which was to be proposed to move mill created by way of a tunnel boring machine (TBM), feed from the existing accelerating construction timelines and reducing portal to the capital costs. Ropeway technology is currently in processing plant use in Colombia, requires minimal land use, and is easily removed at the end of the mine life. The ropeway will also move tailings from the processing plant to the underground paste fill plant. -------------------------- -------------------------------------------------- Reduced size and The new PSN design considers the use of process relocation of tailings as backfill in the underground stopes, tailings storage facility significantly reducing the surface tailings storage capacity requirements and environmental footprint. --------------------