Modern Mining November 2017

MINING News

Caledonia to extend Central Shaft at Blanket gold mine in Zimbabwe

Resolute upgrades resources at Syama

Australia’s Resolute Mining has reported a sig- nificant upgrade of underground resources at the Syama goldmine in Mali. The newMineral Resource Estimate (MRE) totals 5,7 Moz at 3,2 g/t Au with this representing a 39 % increase from the previous total underground resources of 4,1 Moz. “Resources at Syama Underground have increased significantly in both size and in grade,” commented Resolute’s Managing Director and CEO, John Welborn. “The upgrade is reward for our renewed focus on using exploration to create value, for our commitment to maximising the potential of Syama, and ultimately for our belief that Syama is a world-class mining operation. The expansion of the mineral resources will inform the various studies we have com- menced aimed at potential expansion of future production. “The vast majority of the additional 1,6 million ounces of resources are in the indi- cated category and provide an opportunity for a significant future uplift in ore reserves.” In June 2016, Resolute announced the positive results of a definitive feasibility study (DFS) into the Syama Underground mine. The DFS mine plan was designed to a depth of only approximately 600 m below surface. Construction of the Syama Underground mine commenced in September 2016 and the decline development is currently on track for the mine to deliver full underground produc- tion of 2,4 Mt/a in December 2018. 

particularly the continued discovery of resources at depth with good grade conti- nuity, supports an extension of the Central Shaft project at Blanket. The Central Shaft is already a transformational project for our business, and to extend the project an additional 250 metres in depth includ- ing development on 34 and 38 levels will potentially secure Blanket’s operating future for the next 20 years taking explora- tion potential into account. “Based on the strong geological indi- cations of resource and grade continuity at depth, which was supported by our recent resource update, the excellent progress in the current shaft sinking, and most importantly the strong cash genera- tion from Blanket’s current operations, we are now in a position to continue invest- ing for the future.” He added that it is significantly cheaper to continue the shaft sinking while in the construction phase of the project rather than to deepen a fully commissioned and operational shaft in several years’ time. The Central Shaft has been under con- struction since the first quarter of 2015 and was scheduled to be in production during the fourth quarter of 2018. The shaft is currently at a depth of 950 m below surface and is well advanced towards the previous design depth of 1 080 m below surface 

Caledonia Mining Corporation, listed on the TSX and NYSE American, says that – following the recent announcement of an updated resource statement – it plans to extend the depth of the Central Shaft at its 49 % subsidiary, the Blanket Mine in Zimbabwe. The Central Shaft (which is currently under construction) will be extended by a further 250 m to a shaft bottom depth of 1 330 m and fully commissioned by the end of the first quarter of 2020. The extension of the Central Shaft will add two further production levels on 34 (1 110 m) and 38 (1 230 m) levels, in addition to the two levels that are already planned on 26 (870 m) and 30 (990 m) levels. The extension and associated capital development of additional production lev- els will cost approximately US$18 million. Caledonia also reports that it has initi- ated a mid-shaft loading system at Blanket using the existing Central Shaft infrastruc- ture to handle development waste. This is expected to improve Blanket’s waste han- dling capacity and alleviate pressure on No 4 shaft which should have a positive effect on both production flexibility and horizontal development. Commenting on the project update, Caledonia’s CEO, Steve Curtis, said: “We are very pleased that the long track record of sustained resource growth at Blanket,

November 2017  MODERN MINING  17