Operations Exploration Using Mine Scale Structural Using Mine Scale Structural
Definition, Cobar NSW including a including a
CSA Mine Case Study““Rejuvenating historical and
producing operations”
Cobar Conference August 6, 2010
Jason Hosken
XstractGroup.com Xstract – Excellence from the outset
ENVIRONMENT | GEOLOGY | MINING | PROCESSING | VALUATION | RISK | TECHNOLOGIES
Introduction
Adding value using mine geology based on my experience inAdding value using mine geology based on my experience in Cobar, 2002 – 2006 (CSA Mine):
Process: h l f Overview historical information Visit nearby operations Detailed mine mapping Regional versus mine scale controls Geology constrained block models Exploration targetingp g g Seek $$$$$$ Drill ...... then drill some more
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Cobar Deposits – Overview
Formation during inversion of Cobar BasinFormation during inversion of Cobar Basin Typically sediment hosted St t ll t ll d R i l l f lt/ h fl id Structurally controlled: Regional scale fault/shear fluid
channels (Peak to Endeavor)D til hi h t i t i ll i l f ld li b Ductile high strain zones typically on regional fold limbs
Deposits are elongate in the dominant stretching li tilineation Down plunge extent >400m to >1km N idth l 30 Narrow width, commonly <30m Strike length, <300m
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Cobar Deposits – Overview contcont.,
f b d h i i l Geometry of orebody host structures is not simple Deposits locations shown within regional structures
hosting mine ‘footprint’ – bedding, folding, shears, cleavage
Mine scale structures/controls not always shown in detail
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Endeavor Deposit
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Lawrie, Hinman 1998 (after Lawrie 1988, 1989)Nicholson, Mares, Smith 2006
New Occidental Deposit (Stegman Pocock 1996)(Stegman, Pocock, 1996)
After Mulholland and Rayner, 1961
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Mineralisation Footprint
f i Large foot print explained regionally
Further work required to understand mine
l i li tiscale mineralisation controlsMi l ‘f t i t’ Mine scale ‘footprint’ required for mineral resource modelling andresource modelling and in mine exploration
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Mine Geologist Predicament
How to model dataHow to model data Inside regional footprint ‐ Join the
dots? Short term mine future takes Short term mine future takes
priority (no mine = no drilling) Looking for geological
relationshipsrelationships Structures defining grade
boundaries Structure intersections Structure intersections Mappable boundaries required
for mineral resource definition and target generationand target generation
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(CSA Mine 2006)
CSA Copper Mine: In Mine Exploration Case Study Mine HistoryCase Study. Mine History
Discovered 1871 Large scale mechanised mining
commenced in 1965 Mine closed in 1998 Glencore re‐open mine in 1999 (low
tonnage, high grade focus) 1999‐2002: teething issues, focus on1999 2002: teething issues, focus on
production and daily issues. Mapping not a focus
2002‐2003: Push to catch up mapping p pp gand understand controls
2003‐2004: develop structurally constrained block models
2004‐2006: ramp up in mine exploration using targets defined by structural definition
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2006‐2010: increased production rates
CSA Footprint
Extensive documentation on Extensive documentation on CSA regional geology
Four mineralised ‘systems’ine
005) Four mineralised systems
within CSA regional footprint Mapping trends over time
ning
CSA
Mtockton, 20
with different theories Extensive underground
kmalies d
efin
McQ
ueen, S
workings expose structures controlling mineralisation
nsoil an
om(M
unro, M
Cu+P
b+Zn
footprint
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Mapping and Exploration Strategy – QTS NorthStrategy – QTS North
Stage 1: Start with small lenses can see lens controlling Stage 1: Start with small lenses – can see lens controlling structures in a small area
Stage 2: Move to larger lenses Stage 2: Move to larger lenses Stage 3: Begin to define local mine scale footprint in 3D
St 4 D t i t t l ti i f h t t t Stage 4: Determine structural timing of host structures Stage 5: Use mine scale footprint to define exploration
targetstargets
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Stage 1: Small Lode Scale MappingMapping
9185 R Lens 9185 R Lens Begin building knowledge
on quartz veining andon quartz veining and relationship to mineralisation
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QTS North: Schematic Diagram of Mineralisation - Footprintof Mineralisation - Footprint
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CSA Deposits – Exploration ModelModel
Mapping provided:Mapping provided:1. Confidence for mineral resource interpretation2 Mine scale structural understanding (local pods mirror Ore2. Mine scale structural understanding (local pods mirror Ore
System features)3 Tool for down plunge exploration3. Tool for down plunge exploration4. Can project mapping structures and interpret historic drilling
datadata5. Opportunity to apply the same footprint to other locations
within the mine and test
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QTS South Exploration
Apply QTS North Apply QTS North structural understanding tounderstanding to explore for repeat mineralisation at QTS er
ey, 1
996
mineralisation at QTS South
QTS South 700m Smith
, Jef
fe
QTS South 700m below surface, 500m down plunge and
McD
erm
ott,
S
p gmined out
No down plunge
M
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p gextension?
QTS South Exploration
Review historical QTS South mappingD fi i l t t Define regional structures
Understand mineralisation plungeT i l d li i b l Target potential duplication below old workings towards the south
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CSA TVM and Sampling (QTS North)North)
16000
18000
20000
8000
9000
10000
10000
12000
14000
VM 5000
6000
7000
e Po
ints
6000
8000
10000
TV
3000
4000
5000
Sam
ple
0
2000
4000
9010 8980 8950 8920 8890 8860 8830 8800 8770 8740 8710 8680 8650 8620 8590 8560 8530 8500 8470 84400
1000
2000
9010 8980 8950 8920 8890 8860 8830 8800 8770 8740 8710 8680 8650 8620 8590 8560 8530 8500 8470 8440
Level (RL)
tvm 2006 tvm 2005 tvm 2004 Samples 2006 Samples 2005 Samples 2004
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CSA Resource 2003-2006
Category Tonnes (Mt) Cu% Cu (kt) Tonnes (Mt) Cu% Cu (kt) Measured 0 8 7 0 53 1 1 6 3 70
Mineral Resource 2003 Mineral Resource 2006
Measured 0.8 7.0 53 1.1 6.3 70Indicated 1.1 7.0 76 3.1 7.2 223Inferred 2.4 8.4 205 5.3 6.5 348 Total 4.3 7.8 334 9.5 6.7 641
June 2010 Mineral Resource: 11.2 Mt at 6.2% Cu (701kt Cu) (to be assessed for JORC compliance) Production 2003 2010: approx 5 0 Mt at 6 0% Cu (300kt Cu) Production 2003 – 2010: approx 5.0 Mt at 6.0% Cu (300kt Cu)
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Operations Exploration Using Mine Scale Structural Definition: SummaryStructural Definition: Summary
Research (site visits papers)Research (site visits, papers) Mapping (structural interpretation, resource models) U d t d l f i li ti Understand scales of mineralisation
– Regional, mine, lens, potential duplicationh l d k l d Interpret historical data using new knowledge
Generate exploration targets
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