Austral Resources is powering ahead with the development of its Anthill mine in Queensland with plans to ramp up copper cathode production to 10,000 tonnes per annum (tpa) by mid-2022.
Plant and equipment are being mobilised to the site, and surface clearance works are underway as the pit areas are being cleared with vegetation and topsoil stockpiled for mine rehabilitation, prior to the commencement of pre-stripping.
Final approval to commence mining at Anthill was received on October 25 2021.
Contractor Thiess will mobilise its fleet to site this month while clearing and site infrastructure is installed.
The first planned blast of ironstone capping over the east pit is scheduled for mid-November, and bulk overburden mining is planned to commence in early January.
The Mt Kelly processing facility is currently operational and continues producing copper cathode from a 2020 mining campaign.
In preparation for ore deliveries in the second quarter of next year, sections of the plant are being refurbished to ensure high plant availability to stack and process a planned 5000 tonnes per day of oxide ore.
“It’s exciting to see that site works are proceeding as planned with bulk earthmoving to commence in January 2022 and first ore deliveries expected in April 2022,” Austral Resources chief executive officer Steve Tambanis said.
“Both Anthill mine development and Mt Kelly plant refurbishment are progressing to plan.”
At Mt Kelly, the crushing, agglomeration and stacking system is being upgraded with new conveyor rubber, rollers and safety equipment.
The plant is being prepared to increase copper cathode production from the current 200 tonnes a month to 1000 tonnes a month.
“Our goal is to achieve planned copper production of 10,000tpa by mid-2022,” Tambanis said. “Exploration work is underway in preparation for planned drilling to commence Q2 2022.”