Mine Details
Tritton
http://www.straits.com.au
gold, silver, cobalt, , Nyngin, FiFo
Phone:
Address:
Yarrandale Road, Hermidale, NSW, 2831
State: Yarrandale Road, Hermidale, NSW, 2831
Email:
The Tritton mine in Central NSW located near the town of Nyngin, approximately 500 kilometres from Sydney, has increased its annual production of copper to a rate exceeding 25,000 tonnes. This compares favourably to its pre-global financial crisis production level of 23,000 tonnes annually. The Tritton copper mine is fully owned by mining company Straits that specialises in the exploration and mining of copper and gold in the Australian and Asian region.
Copper Mining Began on the Tritton Lease in 1992
Copper was first mined on the Tritton mining lease at the Murrawombie open cut in 1992 as part of the Girilambone mining operation. Mining ceased at Girilambone in 1999. The mining of the actual Tritton ore body began in 2004 when an access decline and stope was developed. This allowed underground production to begin at the mine in March 2005. Its first full year of operation saw it produce over 23,000 tonnes of copper concentrate.
The processing of ore at the Tritton mine follows a traditional crushing and floatation plant infrastructure, with the resulting concentrate producing a clean product well sought after by Asian smelter owners.
Resource Drilling Proves up Further Deposits
As development at the Tritton copper mine has progressed, resource drilling has identified sufficient ongoing reserves to support the construction of new underground declines at Murrawombie and Larsens/North East, as well as an upgrading of existing plant. The development of the two new declines has boosted plant capacity to 1.4 million tonnes a year. Underground development had earlier been shelved at the Tritton mine in 2008 when the GFC ( Global Financial Crisis) first hit the mining industry and companies werenít sure what the future held for them. However, 2010 was used by the owners to to consolidate and make preparations for the future with a goal to be able to annually produce 25,000 tonnes of copper metal from the mine. This required a strategy containing the following plan:
The introduction of pastefill to give a general recovery increase from ore to 94 percent from the current 55 percent. This plant was commissioned and began operation in 2011.
Developing a transverse stoping method of mining to facilitate mining an ore body that was flattening in depth.
Readying the North East Mine so it could re-commence production of 300,000 tonnes a year.
All these goals were worked on throughout 2011 and success was immediately achieved. The Tritton mine now has its mine life extended by seven years with annual production at 25,000 tonnes of copper production each year. Future reserves are expected to prove up even further economical ore bodies and it is confident of having a long term growth. It is now planned, with positive ongoing drilling results coming online, to increase annual copper production to 35,000 tonnes a year in the near future. So far exploration has confirmed the following:
The North East ore body remains at depth
Deep diamond drilling within the Tritton mine itself confirms downdipping of the main ore body showing good potential.
A new discovery has been proven at Avoca Tank, near the North East operation. Evaluation work is continuing at the Murrawombie mine on the Tritton lease.
