Confident after a site visit, Polymetals Resources Ltd (ASX:POL) has kicked off a study aimed at restarting operations at its Endeavor Silver-Zinc-Lead Mine in the Cobar Basin, New South Wales.
The Endeavor Mine Restart Study (MRS) marks an important step for the company as it moves forward with plans to revitalise the mine and tap into the potential of the polymetallic deposits in the Cobar Basin.
The study is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter.
What the study entails
A key focus of the study will be the metallurgical test work on mineralisation at the mine’s Upper Main Lodes, aimed at maximising silver and gold recovery. This step is expected to be the longest lead item in the study.
In addition to the Upper Main Lodes, the study will cover other areas within the mine, including the 6-6 Stope, the Deep Zinc Lode, North Pods, unmined stopes and remnant mineralisation previously thought not viable.
POL’s near term plan is to explore gold and copper occurrences discovered by 402,000 metres of historic drilling.
Initial areas of focus at Endeavor.
Site manager
To oversee Endeavor’s operations, POL has appointed highly-experienced mining engineer David Pelchen as site representative.
Pelchen previously worked on various mining projects in Australia, New Zealand, China, Indonesia, and Kazakhstan in roles including management and supervision of underground mines.
He has played key roles in mine development and restarts.
As a certified mine manager, Pelchen's expertise will be invaluable in driving productivity improvements and implementing safety practices at the mine.
Experienced team
"It is pleasing that we are now fully resourced with a competent and experienced technical team and board which provides the company with its best opportunity to advance the mine restart study and bring the Endeavor Mine back on line,” POL executive chairman Dave Sproule said.
“Given Endeavor’s 38 years of operational history, our familiarity of the Cobar Basin and long-term relationships within the region, I am very confident that we will achieve a positive result from the mine restart study now well underway.”