|
Projects
Cadia Valley Province
Cadia East Underground
| Location |
Orange District, Central New South Wales |
| Ownership |
100% Newcrest |
| Mineral Resources |
Refer 2009 Annual Report |
| Ore Reserves |
Refer 2009 Annual Report |
| Current Project Status |
Feasibility Stage |
| Mine Type |
Underground Panel Cave |
| Processing |
Flotation & Gravity utilising existing Cadia Valley processing plants |
| Product |
Gold bullion and Gold/Copper Concentrate |
| Mine Life |
Greater than 30 years |
|
Introduction
Cadia East is a mineralised system located on the eastern edge of the Cadia Hill orebody, within the Cadia mineralised corridor. The deposit is a porphyry zone of gold-copper mineralisation extending up to 2.5 kilometres east of Cadia Hill. The system is up to 600 metres wide and extends to 1.9 kilometres below the surface.
The Cadia Hill gold-copper porphyry deposit was discovered by Newcrest Mining Limited in 1992. Cadia East was subsequently discovered in February 1994 as the result of exploration east of the Cadia Hill prospect during the drillout of that deposit. The high-grade gold-copper mineralisation at depth was discovered in 1996 by drilling beneath previously outlined gold-copper mineralisation.
Overview
Cadia East involves the development of the massive Cadia East deposit into Australia’s first panel cave. The mine will be the deepest panel cave in the world and Australia’s largest underground mine. Mining studies have identified panel caving as the mining method which will deliver the optimum technical and economic outcomes for development of this orebody.
Project Status
The Board of Newcrest approved the development of Cadia East on 9 April 2010. This followed receipt of NSW Government planning approval in January 2010 and the subsequent completion of other regulatory requirements in relation to the project.
The Cadia East orebody is one of the world's largest gold deposits, comprising a Mineral Resource1 of 2,347Mt containing 33.2Moz of gold and 6.59Mt of copper, along with a current Ore Reserve1 of 18.7Moz of gold and 3.16Mt of copper. It will underpin production from the Cadia Valley for at least the next 30 years.
The project is based on the construction of an underground mine adjacent to the Cadia Hill open pit mine, and an expansion of the existing Cadia Valley processing plant capacity from 24Mtpa to 26Mpta. The estimated capital cost of the project is A$1.91 billion.
The project will enable production from Cadia Valley Operations to increase to a range of 700 to 800 koz of gold and 75 to in excess of 100kt of copper per year over the first 10 years.
Construction has commenced with first production expected in the second half of 2012. Commissioning and appreciable production levels will be occurring during the 2013 calendar year.
The massive underground resource is suited to the low cost, bulk underground mining method of panel caving. Panel caving is a natural caving method which uses ground stresses, rock structures and gravity to break the rock. Orebodies best suited to panel caving are those where the horizontal dimensions are greater than those that are suited to block caving. Ore extraction advances across the orebody as panels are progressively developed. Broken ore is removed by using underground mobile loaders and ore conveyors. Significant underground infrastructure including underground crushers, declines, production / undercut levels and ventilation shafts, handling and conveyor system will be constructed.
The Cadia East panel cave will be conducted initially in two lifts. Mining will extend from 500 metres to approximately 1450 metres below surface.
Cadia East ore is harder than ore from Cadia Hill and/or Ridgeway and as such has slightly different ore processing requirements. The existing Cadia Valley Operations ore processing facilities will be upgraded and the existing processing plant ore processing rate will be increased from the existing 24Mtpa rate to approximately 26Mtpa.
Cadia East project has been at the forefront of mine development with new technologies utilized to maximize underground development rates. Further innovative mining technologies and enhancements are planned to be employed in the establishment and operation of the mine including the application of automated remote loaders.
The key Project extensions to the Cadia Valley Operations under the new Project will include:
- Development of Australia's first panel cave to facilitate bulk underground mining of the Cadia East deposit;
- Development of underground crushing, handling and incline conveyor systems to transfer ore and waste rock mined from the orebody to the ore processing facilities;
- Development of supporting infrastructure for the underground mine including multiple ventilation shafts, and personnel and equipment access systems;
- Upgrade of existing Cadia Valley Operations ore processing facilities;
- Upgrade and augmentation of existing Cadia Valley Operations water management/supply system including additional pipeline/pumping systems and raising of the Rodds Creek Water Holding dam;
- Construction of new dewatering facility;
- Installation of new concentrate pipeline and return water pipeline between the Cadia Valley Operations and the CVO dewatering facility; and
- Other associated modifications to existing infrastructure, plant, equipment and activities to allow mining of the Cadia East deposit and integration with the approved Cadia Valley Operations.
Commitment to Australian Industry
Newcrest is committed to supporting Australian industry by ensuring Australian suppliers have the ability to compete for contracts on our projects, and by engaging Australian businesses, where possible, to provide the various equipment and services to facilitate our projects. Our investment in Australian businesses are creating jobs and opportunities nationwide.
We believe in providing opportunities for Australian suppliers, and engineering and construction companies, to participate in our projects.
Suppliers and service providers interested in the Project should direct their enquires to cadiaeast@fluor.com or for general supply and logistic enquires please direct your enquires to supplycsr@newcrest.com.au.
Future Developments
The Cadia East orebody is open, to the west, east and at depth with potential to expand the resource footprint and mine life in years to come.
1 Refer to Newcrest 2009 Mineral Resources & Ore Reserves statement on the Newcrest website.
 |
