- a dual lane, sealed access road from the
- a 220kV power line that will connect the BHCP site to the TransGrid substation located in the industrial area of Broken Hill via the
- a 400mm diameter buried pipeline for the transmission of raw water to the BHCP site
- a buried fibre optical cable to be co-located with the aforementioned water pipeline; and
- a creek diversion required for the development of the Railway deposit
Commenting on the advancement of the BHCP, Cobalt Blue's Chief Executive Officer,
The Application succeeds the completion of a discrete transport and logistics review. The amended access route is expected to enhance operational safety with improved sightlines at major intersections, particularly at the
MLA634 complements the earlier application, MLA614 which was lodged in
In
- dedicated geotechnical drilling to inform pit slope stability analysis for mine design and optimisation at the Big Hill and Railway deposits;
- investigation of zones of potential resource extension at the Big Hill and Railway deposits;
- infill drilling targeting improved resource classification at the Big Hill deposit; and
- drilling for waste rock characterisation at the Pyrite Hill, Big Hill and Railway deposits to inform detailed design criteria for the Integrated Waste Landforms ('IWLs').
Seventy-eight (78) drill holes were completed for some 12,280 metres increasing COB's cumulative drilling effort from approximately 28,500 metres to over 40,000 metres since 2017 (excluding drilling required for installation of groundwater monitoring equipment).
Assays from the 2022-23 drilling program were received during the
A series of geotechnical investigations were completed in August to provide an assessment of subsurface conditions and how those conditions are likely to impact, or interact with major infrastructure including:
-
- Main site access road and internal mine haul roads.
- Rail siding.
- Non-process infrastructure ('NPI') including administration and workshop areas.
- Process infrastructure including the ROM pad, stockpiles, kiln, loadouts and crushing / milling infrastructure.
- Water storage tanks.
- Overhead transmission line from the mine site to Broken Hill; and
- IWL locations.
The investigations included completion of some 60 test pits and 28 auger / cored drillholes ranging between 6 and 15m total depth.
An extensive number of field tests were undertaken and will be further supported by laboratory testwork on recovered core samples.
This data will inform design of foundations and retaining structures.
Following execution of the geotechnical investigations in August, the exploration team have completed supplementary site rehabilitation works. These works succeed the earlier rehabilitation effort focussed on drilling which concluded in Q1 2023. Routine monitoring of rehabilitation has commenced with post rehabilitation inspections for approximately 100 individual sites (including diamond / reverse circulation drill sites and ancillary disturbance areas) recorded in August - September. Monitoring of rehabilitation will continue to ensure fulfilment of rehabilitation objectives and completion criteria.
Soils, biodiversity and Aboriginal cultural heritage surveys have been completed for the entire disturbance footprint of BHCP, including the access road and utilities alignments. These survey results will form part of the Environmental Impact Statement that will be submitted for State Significant Development Approval in 2024. In addition, a referral under the Commonwealth Environmental Projection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, using site-based biodiversity data, will be made in late 2023.
The site based environmental data has been used to develop the BHCP site disturbance footprint, where opportunities to avoid or minimise impacts to biodiversity, Aboriginal heritage objects and or watercourse integrity have been considered.
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About
Contact:
Chief Executive Officer
info@cobaltblueholdings.com
P: (02) 8287 0660
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