PERTH (miningweekly.com) – ASX-listed Kasbah Resources would look at developing an openpit operation at its Achmmach tin project, in Morocco, after drilling defined a shallow indicated mineral resource of some 0.7-million tonnes, at 0.85% tin.
The resource was 350 m long, 120 m wide and extended to only 140 m below the surface.
“This maiden indicated, shallow resource of around 5 800 t of contained tin has exceeded our expectations and has the potential to provide early, openpit ore from the Eastern zone shallows (EZS),” said Kasbah MD Wayne Bramwell.
He noted that starting the EZS as an openpit operation, while concurrently developing the Central decline, could provide early cash flow and increase production in year one of the operation.
“As such, the economic evaluation of mining ore from the EZS from an openpit versus an underground mine, will commence immediately.”
Kasbah initially planned to develop a one-million-tonne-a-year underground mine, with first tin from Achmmach expected in 2015.