Maybe a future potential customer for ablation3. Underground...

Maybe a future potential customer for ablation

3. Underground bore hole mining. This is a mining methodology being examined by Black Range Minerals Limited (ASX code BLR) for its Hansen/Taylor Ranch Uranium Project in Colorado, United States of America. A Scoping Study completed for a higher grade portion of the Hansen deposit indicated favourable capital and operating costs could be achieved. The underground bore hole mining concept is that hydraulic tools are used to cut laterally from bore holes in the mineralisation with the resulting material pumped to surface for treatment. The United States Bureau of Mines developed and built experimental bore hole mining tools in the 1970’s and the technology has since been used in phosphate, uranium mining, oil sands and kimberlite projects. Advantages of the system are a smaller surface footprint than conventional mining, lower capital and operating costs, and the ability to scale the operation to the size of the deposit. The technique is not well known outside of the United States and its technical requirements are not well documented. At the Blackbush deposit the mineralised material is potentially well suited to hydraulic breakage and slurry pumping, and existing metallurgical data suggests potentially good recoveries may be possible. Modelling of the development and upward propagation of a mined void, the bridging strength of the overlying Melton Limestone and the possible range of ground control and backfill options will be carried out.