Mining Magazine > Panorama > Ernest Henry commences production

Initial underground mine production has successfully commenced at Xstrata Copper’s Ernest Henry Mining operation in north-west Queensland, marking the site’s transition from open pit mining, which is now complete, to underground mining and magnetite processing.

This is a major milestone in the progression of Xstrata Copper’s US$606 million project to extend its Ernest Henry operations to at least 2024.

During the first phase of underground operations, ore will be trucked via a decline at rates of approximately 3Mt/y, producing about 25,000t of copper and 35,000oz of gold in concentrate. Following the commissioning of the underground shaft in 2013, production will ramp up to 6Mt/y, producing 50,000t of copper and 70,000oz of gold in concentrate.

Ernest Henry Mining’s general manager Myles Johnston said: “The project creates 330 jobs during the construction phase and 400 full-time jobs from 2013, extending the operations by at least another 12 years.

“An additional 100 full-time jobs are expected to be created from the development of our newly acquired Mount Margaret Mining Project, purchased from Exco Resources earlier this year. If approved, this project will further add to the production profile of Ernest Henry from the second half of 2012.”