The $1.865bn Argyle Underground Project is a 60Mt underground extension of the existing open pit operations, The block cave mine extends the life of the Argyle mine out to at least 2019.
The Argyle Underground Project comprises the development and construction of a block cave mine which will supply the bulk of ore feed for the process plant from 2012 through to 2018. The underground mine is located some 240m directly below the main southern open pit. The project comprises some 35km of underground tunnelling, approximately half of which provides access and ventilation into the mine as well as room for mining infrastructure. The remaining 15km of tunnelling represent the construction requirements of the undercut and extraction levels which define the ore block and will facilitate caving and production activities.
The next stage of the project will see major construction works completed on the underground crushers, conveyers and pump stations. Extraction level development and construction will then intensify, focussing on the northern five production tunnels. Once these tunnels and associated drawpoints and drawbells have been completed, together with the first primary crusher and the seasonal dewatering system, initial production can commence. Production is scheduled to increase over two years as the rest of the extraction level is constructed.