Stawell Gold Mine is currently expending many thousands of dollars on exploration, with the aim of extending the life of the mining operations in Stawell towards the end of the year 2011.
General Manager Troy Cole advised members at the Environmental Review Committee meeting last week of the expenditure and of the upgrade to the cooling project. As work is undertaken at greater depths, the air flow is not enough to cool the environment, thus cooling is required to operate at depth to ensure the working area is kept below 32 degrees wet bulb.
``During 2008, refrigeration upgrade with a state of the art system not yet attempted in underground mining will be commissioned,'' he said.
Mr Cole said ventilation was the key to increasing mining rates and reducing operation risks.
``Primary ventilation would be aligned with Western Australian industry practice, and to this end, a three stage ventilation has commenced at the mine,'' Mr Cole said.
He said stage one was now 70% complete, and in stage two, fans had been ordered.
Mr Cole also reported to the ERC meeting that exploration costs in three areas was estimated at $620,000.
The mine had set reserves and resources targets for 2008 and 2009, while the scoping program targeting GG6 Exploration, ($250,000 - three holes), Leviathan Gift ($300,000 - two holes), and Wonga Gift Structural Study ($57,000-$67,000), in total $620,000.
Mr Cole said the three scoping projects were proposed for inclusion in the 2008 exploration program, to service longer term strategic exploration and mine plan initiatives.
``At the Wildwood site, east flank, geophysics was undertaken in September, with drilling commenced in October, an additional six holes,'' Mr Cole said.
``A budget plan is proposed for the west flank, with deep geophysics (MT/IP) and follow up scoping drilling from surface target.
``This should hopefully prove the existence of mineralisation, mudstone lithologies and basalt contact.''
Further exploration is also planned in the Pleasant Creek/Commercial Road area.
``Work was re-commenced in September, and will continue over the course of 2009, entailing geophysics and Scoping Drilling from the surface, diamond and air core,'' he said.
``The target was to prove the existence of mineralisation, mudstone lithologies and altered basalt contact. These targets were based on large, strong gravity and magnetic anomalies, and rich alluvial leads.''
Other areas of exploration include Navco at Stawell Gold Mine, Navarre and Rimfire.