Mineral Resources (MinRes) has commenced preliminary development works to support underground future mining at the Mt Marion lithium operation, signalling an exciting new chapter for the world-class mine.
Mt Marion is located approximately 40km southwest of Kalgoorlie in the Goldfields region of Western Australia. The operation is jointly owned by MinRes (50%) and one of the world’s largest lithium hydroxide producers, Jiangxi Ganfeng Lithium Co. Ltd. (50%).
During Q2 FY24, a diamond drilling program significantly increased confidence in the underground resource in the mine’s upper North Pit.
Drilling confirmed the North Pit underground ore body is vertically dipping with a strike length of 500 metres and a thickness of 30 to 60 metres. Pegmatites were intercepted around 1.2 kilometres below surface.
MinRes also recently announced the underground Mineral Resource at Mt Marion had doubled to 19.3Mt, with a full underground study targeted for completion by mid-2024.
A development contract has already been awarded to locally based specialist underground development contractor, Develop Global, for the establishment of an exploration decline at Mt Marion.
Works include establishment of surface facilities supporting underground mining activity, installation of underground mine infrastructure, excavating underground capital development and exploration drill platforms, and obtaining geological and operational data to support future mining activities.
A key project milestone was recently achieved through the successful first blast fired for the decline box-cut, with significant earthworks now under way to support a target depth of 350 metres within the next 18 months.
During this time, MinRes aims to complete an additional 80,000 metres of reverse circulation and diamond drilling targeting the underground resource below the mine’s Central and C2 pits to further map and define the underground potential.
Chief Executive Lithium Joshua Thurlow said the start of preliminary underground works marked an exciting new phase for one of the world’s few operating hard rock lithium mines.
“MinRes has been managing all open pit mining operations at Mt Marion since 2016 and this site is a key asset in our growing world-class lithium portfolio,” Thurlow said.
“Recent underground exploration success has confirmed that we’ve barely scratched the surface of this mine’s potential.
“Having now doubled the underground Mineral Resource, we’re pushing ahead with building the necessary infrastructure and technical expertise to transition Mt Marion into an open pit and underground mining operation.”
MinRes also owns and operates the Bald Hill mine in the Goldfields and operates the Wodgina lithium operation in the Pilbara region under a 50/50 joint venture with Albemarle Corporation.
