PERTH (miningweekly.com) – Gold miner Newcrest Mining would shift its development focus at the Cadia East operation to the propagation of Panel Cave 2, following the safe propagation of Panel Cave 1 this week.
“Newcrest has developed world-class expertise in bulk underground mining techniques gained from the establishment of the Ridgway sub-level cave and block cave, and the Telfer sub-level cave,” said Newcrest MD and CEO Sandeep Biswas.
“This experience has led to the successful achievement of this critical milestone of the project ahead of time.”
The propagation of the Panel Cave 1 connected the broken rock of the cave to the surface, reducing production risk and increasing draw flexibility, Biswas said.
The breakthrough meant that production now became less constrained, providing more flexible ore extraction.