Vertex Minerals has begun the first production firing of its trial longhole open stope in Decline 3 of the Reward Gold Mine in Hill End, New South Wales, Australia.
The initiative marks a significant shift from traditional mining methods as the company aims to compare productivity and cost differences between airleg stoping and mechanised longhole mining.
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The newly developed trial stope, situated on the high-grade Mica 1 lens, features an 8m airleg slot rise and is believed to be among the narrowest mechanised longhole stopes mined in Australia.
High grades were encountered at Mica 1 and are said to be consistent with production levels achieved by the previous owner, Hill End Gold, which utilised airleg mining.
Significant preparatory work was undertaken, including the rehabilitation of the historic decline network. Poor ground conditions resulting from prolonged inundation delayed progress. The Vertex team implemented safety measures such as rock bolting and grouting after dewatering to secure the site.
The trial employs a modified jumbo drill, with the Resemin Muki longhole rig expected to arrive in September 2026. The modified equipment set-up aims to reduce dilution by more than 20% for similar cut lengths.
Initial ore screening from the trial has shown high-grade quartz with visible gold, aligning with Vertex’s expectations for the Mica 1 lens.
The projected diluted head grade is approximately eight grams per tonne gold from the 1,200t stope, based on the current geological model, which may be revisited as more data becomes available.
This trial represents a pivotal step in Vertex’s broader strategy to transition towards mechanised methods as deeper levels of the mine are developed.
Vertex Operations executive director Jim Simpson said: “This is a pivotal moment in the Reward Mine’s evolution. Moving to narrow longhole stoping means we are mining our very narrow, high-grade veins with the least amount of dilution, which provide significantly higher feed grade to the plant. This major step is an important proof of concept for the team and the project as we work towards full mechanised longhole open stoping at Reward.
“Whilst more improvements can be made with a dedicated Muki rig drilling more accurate production holes, it shows what our underground crews are capable of and gives us real operating data to plan the wider rollout of longhole mining as we develop the growth of gold production at the Reward Mine.”
