Super pit kalgoorlie

Many small independent gold mining operations once mined gold within the 'Golden Mile' at Kalgoorlie in the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia. Things changed forever when Western Australian businessman Alan Bond arrived on the scene. Bond set about buying up all the leases held by the smaller operators, with the intention of turning them all into one big open pit. It was named the Fimiston Pit, which was later to become more commonly known as the Super Pit. However, Bond didn't get to complete his takeover but in 1989 the entire area was combined into the ownership of, Homestake Gold Australia and Normandy Australia. The joint venture operation was managed by Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines Pty Ltd (KCGM). Today it is still managed by KCGM but the ownership has changed to Newmont Australia Pty Ltd and Barrick Australia Pacific on a 50/50 basis.

The Kalgoorlie Super Pit is the Largest in Australia
The Kalgoorlie Super Pit that is now the largest open cut gold mine in Australia is located off the Goldfields Highway at the south east edge of the City of Kalgoorlie. It mines 85 million tonnes of material a year making it the largest single open pit mine of any type in the country. The mine constantly produces 850,000 ounces of gold annually, far outweighing any other Australian gold mining centre.

An Underground Mine is Below the Kalgoorlie Super Pit
The Kalgoorlie Super Pit is being developed above a former underground mine that extracted much of the high grade ore from the site. However, the operation was developed to mine huge quantities of low grade material that has been left behind from the underground operation known as 'haloes.' When mining is completed at the site in between 16 and 20 years time the pit will be about 3.8 kilometres long, 1.35 kilometres wide and around 600 metres deep. Mining at the Kalgoorlie Super Pit is a year round seven days a week 24 hours a day operation.

Open pit mining at the Kalgoorlie Super Pit is considerably handicapped by it operating above former underground workings having to take into account the stopes, voids, shafts, drives and cross cut workings that date back to 1893. In all there are approximately 3,000 kilometres of old mine workings beneath the Kalgoorlie Super Pit open cut. This creates extra difficulty in the design and planning of the open pit mining operation, particularly that of drilling and blasting. Many rather unique work practices and procedures have been developed in order to deal with these unusual matters. The remaining life of the mine estimated to be another 16 to 20 years will entail the moving of a further 1,129 million tonnes of material that is expected to produce over 10 million ounces, or 300 tonnes, of gold.

Thorough Planning Required Before Blasting Takes Place at the Kalgoorlie Super Pit
Before any blast holes are drilled, or rock mined at the Kalgoorlie Super Pit, a thorough planning process has to be undertaken to ensure the mining process continues as smoothly and as safely as possible. This means planning engineers have to consult with geologists,drilling and blasting engineers and void officers. The size, design and shape of the blast has to be agreed to as well as the location of the ore bench, the ore requirement at the Fimiston mill and the intensity and presence of the old workings.

When all is agreed to with plans and schedules checked by all relevant parties the blasting can then be proceeded with.