Most of the “proven” ore comes from the pillars left
behind after previous mining operations that used the “room
and pillar” technique. The mine was in operation for 17 years
between 1973 and 1990 during which time nearly 12m tonnes of rich
ore was extracted.
Following close consultation with the former mine’s Rock
Mechanic, Per-Erik Söder and examination of computer modelling
of the rock stress, the study concludes that in different parts of
the mine 80-100% of the reamining ~1000 pillars can be mined. This
high percentage is partially linked to the proposed method of disposal
of the tailings from mineral processing. These will be put back into
the voids of the mine as a semi-dry paste, which solidifies after
12 hours creating a “reconstituted
rock” and creating extra support for the roof.
This is the most environmentally-friendly method of disposal
of the tailings and meets with the full support of the Department
of Arctic Environment in Denmark. (Previous operations dumped
the tailings into the sea).
The entrance to the mine is situated on the cliff face 600m above the fjord. From there the mine extends 4 km into the mountain. In the past this entrance was linked to a cable car across the fjord, which has since been dismantled.
The new concept presented in the prefeasibility study envisages a new entrance being created at the back of the mine and linked to a new road around the fjord (see diagram above). A six km stretch of the road already exists in the form of a tunnel leading to a Nunngarut satellite orebody. The road will become the backbone of the project and will form a base for extensive exploration of the plateau. It will also enable mining of the known small satellite orebodies, to which there was no access previously.
New discoveries have been made in 2005 both on paper and on the ground. Angus & Ross has access to the complete data set from previous drilling, which translates into 160,000 metres of drill records and tens of thousands of assays. Re-analysing the old data with modern computer techniques allows for new targets to be identified.
Angus & Ross plc launched a major exploration programme in 2006
to find the additional ore to meet the target of the "Improved
Case". Find out more on the Project
Overview page and the Latest
News page.
