Cornish Metals Inc continues to advance preparations ahead of a mining decision at the end of 2024 for the South Crofty tin project in Cornwall.
WATER TREATMENT PLANT
In its annual statements for the year ended 31 January 2023 and until 26 April 2023, the Canadian company reported near completion of the water treatment plant (WTP).
Work included installation of the treated water discharge duct, concrete foundation pad, tanks and clarifiers, structural steel supports and walkways.
The mechanical, electrical and instrumentation equipment will be installed from this month.
Pump and pipe handling infrastructure has been installed in readiness for the expected lowering of the pumps and pipes into New Cook’s Kitchen in May 2023.
Commissioning of the WTP, planned for the Summer of 2023, has an estimated completion cost of £6.5m to £7m.
MINE DEWATERING
The company has purchased and commissioned new self-contained self-rescuers and constructed and commissioned a new underground refuge chamber.
Installation of new ventilation ducting will support underground drilling for the metallurgical study drill programme.
WiFi connections installed underground will provide improved communications with surface.
Cornish Metals is testing the two submersible pumps for the mine dewatering purchased in 2018 before lowering them into the New Cook’s Kitchen shaft in May 2023.
A new single drum winder, with expected delivery in October 2023, will enable the New Cook’s Kitchen’s shaft to be re-accessed once dewatering activities begin.
PERSONNEL
Key positions appointed include project manager for the construction and commissioning of the WTP, feasibility study manager, project engineer, health & safety officer and human resources advisor and additional employees.
Cornish Metals has also created two mine rescue teams as part of the mutual aid scheme operating in the southwest of the UK.
DRILL PROGRAMME
The current 8,000 to 12,000m drill programme, to collect samples for metallurgical testwork as part of the feasibility study (FS), is expected to complete in early summer 2023.
Cornish Metals has contracted three drill rigs from Priority Drilling Ltd.
Two rigs are drilling from surface and one rig from underground, collecting samples from the North Pool zone (east section of mineral resource), the No. 4 and No. 8 lodes (centre), Roskear and Dolcoath South (west).
The five main lodes / mineralised zones contain the majority of the mineralised material anticipated to be processed during the first six years of mine life.
All mineralised sample material required from No. 4 Lode, No. 8 Lode, Roskear and North Pool zone has been collected and initial metallurgical studies have commenced.
All of the metallurgical studies, except for Dolcoath South, are due for completion by the end of 2023 for inclusion in the FS.
FEASIBILITY STUDY
Work on the FS continues with completion planned by the end of 2024.
Fairport Engineering will design the process plant and estimate capital and operating costs.
AGS Ground Solutions has completed a geotechnical site investigation for the process plant.
MiningOne will conduct numerical modelling and ground control studies for underground mining method and stope designs.
Entech Mining will provide a study on the refurbishment, re-equipping and operation of New Cook’s Kitchen shaft.