I'm speculating that it's to do with this satellite image of the...

I'm speculating that it's to do with this satellite image of the site from 23rd of June courtesy of Sentinel-2b:



That's a very dark tone for a supposedly dewatered pit, much darker than the surrounding hillsides and gorges and any shadow they may be casting. Might explain why they're blasting topsoil and purchasing a nearby facility with mining leases, instead of working the old mine...