Underground Mining

In 2001, recognising the open pit was approaching the end of its life, Argyle Diamonds began investigating the feasibility of constructing an underground block cave operation that could extend mine life by viably mining the ore body at depth.

As it currently stands, end of mine life for the AK1 open pit is 2008. The underground option was proposed to complement a possible low grade open pit expansion and is likely to extend productive mine life as far as 2018.

The pre-feasibility study was completed in January 2003 and examined the full range of underground development alternatives and transition strategies. It was presented to the Rio Tinto Investment Committee on 11 February 2003, receiving approval to:

• complete a full feasibility study, which would lead to an underground mine development decision in 2005. More >