Ongoing Outstanding Drilling Success Boosts Underground Potential
Silver Mines Limited (ASX:SVL) has commissioned a Scoping Study and associated Mineral Resources assessment for potential underground mining scenarios at the Bowdens Silver Project located near Mudgee in New South Wales.
Silver Mines Managing Director Anthony McClure stated, Tthis is a substantial moment in the evolution of the Bowdens Silver Project. Drilling in three zones directly beneath our open-pit Ore Reserves has shown considerable high-grade silver success and over substantial widths. This success allows us to move rapidly to commence a preliminary Mineral Resource assessment along with a Scoping Study for potential underground development scenarios. This program will not affect our current late-stage approval processes for the Bowdens Silver open-pit development.”
Recent outstanding drilling results from the Bowdens Silver Project has prompted the company to commence a Mineral Resource assessment and Scoping Study for potential underground mining scenarios.
H&S Consultants who estimated the current JORC Mineral Resource for the Bowdens Silver Project, have been engaged to advise and undertake an assessment of high-grade silver drilling results to complete a Mineral Resource. This estimate will focus on mineralisation outside of the current open-pit Ore Reserve and will include the Northwest High-Grade Zone, the Aegean Zone and the Bundarra Zone.
The Scoping Study will commence immediately and will complete subject to final results of the drilling program and the Mineral Resource assessment which are scheduled to be completed later in the 2021 calendar year.
The Scoping Study will be undertaken by; • GR Engineering Services Limited – Project Lead and Engineering; • Entech Pty Ltd – Mine Design; • KYSPYmet – Metallurgy • Neville Bergin – Project Management
The Scoping Study will consider potential underground mining scenarios beneath the planned open-pit development currently undergoing final processes for mine approvals. Although yet to be determined, a concept may be for a planned underground development to commence operations in around years 3-4 of the open-pit development to supplement plant feed with high-grade material at a rate of up to 500,000 tonnes per year.
Silver Mines Managing Director, Anthony McClure, added that an alternative would be for an underground development at the end of the open-pit mine life. The 30,000m drilling programme, the Resource Assessment and Scoping Study will not have any effects on the ongoing approval process for the Bowdens Silver open-pit development currently before the New South Wales Department of Planning, Industry and Environment.
“Assuming the ongoing success of the current drilling, the Mineral Resource Assessment and the Scoping Study, we would then look to a potential Feasibility Study and other assessments for a potential underground development,” Mr McClure said/
“Although we have much work to do to demonstrate an economic underground project, the results to date are so highly encouraging, that we have elected to move rapidly to commence the Mineral Resource Assessment and Scoping Study while the on-site drilling programme continues.”
For further information please visit: https://www.silvermines.com.au/
