Ann: Significant Upgrade for Old Pirate sets ABM , page-14

re: Ann: Significant Upgrade for Old Pirate s... Fmx, the vein is much harder than the shale. It should separate quite well.
I used to be an earthmover. I have dug plenty of pools, cut out large excavations for retainer walls, etc in shale.
It was always important to leave neat walls to minimise back filling. I had little trouble doing this with pulling shale away from shale to within around +/- 200mm for the most part.
If I was pulling shale away from a quartz vein, I have no doubt I could have done it to within a few inches with ease.
I had 10 years experience in earthmoving but was not the most experienced excavator operator.
You would be amazed at what good operators can do.
That sort of precision would give head grades much better than the scoping study is allowing for.
I have little doubt any experienced operator will have little trouble in minimising dilution.
Most open pit mines do not have this sort of excellent visual guidance of mineralised zones which is why many experience relatively high dilution and need much tighter grade control drilling to guide the operators on what is ore and what is waste.
The trial mine will give us a good guide on what head grades will be achieved, how grades reconcile etc.