P2 Mining awarded trial mining contract at South African mine

P2 Mining has been awarded a six-month trial mining contract for Prieska copper-zinc mine in the Northern Cape, South Africa.

Orion Minerals, issued the contract which will see P2 conduct an early works trial underground mining program at the Prieska mine. This program will focus on the +105 Level Crown Pillar using both conventional and alternative underground mining methods.

The firm will develop a 120-meter footwall ramp to access the supergene ore of the +105 block. Ore development will extend along the strike for 150 meters of the primary access. P2 will also open the 143 Level stope drawpoints for selective loading and hauling of broken ore to the surface. This material will be used for bulk sampling and metallurgical trials.

Prieska copper-zinc mine

Successful material from the trial will be stockpiled on the surface to be processed in the future when the concentrator plant is constructed. Orion Minerals sees this as a significant step in transitioning from a developer to an operating mining company. They have made preparations such as installing underground refuge chambers, upgrading emergency escape way hoisting capacity, and acquiring key ventilation equipment in preparation for this trial mining operation.

The Prieska copper-zinc mine is located in the Northern Cape, approximately 270 kilometers from Kimberley. It is known for being a volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS) base metal deposit with a historical production record of over 430,000 tonnes of copper and 1 million tonnes of zinc extracted from 46.8 million tonnes of sulphide ore. In July, Orion Minerals updated the mineral reserve estimate within the +105 Level Crown Pillar to 2.3 million tonnes (mt) with a composition of 1.7% copper and 1.6% zinc.