Crowflight on Track to Resume Bucko Mine Production
TORONTO, ON - Crowflight Minerals Inc. reported that it plans to re-start production mining activities at the Bucko Lake Nickel Mine ("Bucko") located in the Thompson Nickel Belt near Wabowden, Manitoba by the end of February 2010. Milling operations and shipments of concentrate are expected to recommence shortly thereafter in March.
The Company is targeting start-up of production at 1,000 tonnes per day (tpd) from the Bucko Mine for the second quarter of 2010, which is expected to increase to 1,200 tpd during the second half of the year.
Since the temporary suspension of production mining and milling operations was announced in November 2009, Crowflight has been focused on the following initiatives:
*completing development of the surface ramp to connect from surface to
the 1,000' Level;
*lateral level development;
*infill diamond drilling underground on the 500, 600 and 900 Levels;
*upgrading and commissioning the backfill plant; and
mine method re-design
Development of the surface ramp decline has been ongoing for the past two months and is expected to break through to the 1,000' Level ramp in February. The ramp connection has been designed to develop access to new areas for mining and allow for the use of large 40-tonne class trucks to haul ore directly from the stoping levels to surface. The trucking via ramp is important to allow for efficient mining cycle time as well as the continuous transport of ore to surface from a number of operating mining levels.
Lateral level development commenced in early January and will continue through the first and second quarters. Crowflight is targeting to have three working levels of lateral development complete by the start of the second quarter of 2010 utilizing an overhand cut and fill mining method. The transition to cut and fill mining has been implemented with a view to allow for a consistent ore stream to the mill. The cut and fill method will allow for a more selective mining operation which in turn will reduce dilution and allow an increase in mine head grades. Two levels are currently in development and are expected to be complete by late February, with a third level expected to be complete in March. Mining is scheduled to be conducted on multiple levels allowing for a consistent number of workplaces at any one time to meet the 1,000 tpd target.
Scheduled infill diamond drilling on the 500', 600' and 900' Levels was completed in December 2009, the results of which are now being incorporated into the mine model. This drilling has defined sufficient reserves to sustain mining in the main portion of the West Limb of the deposit between the 1,000' and 450' Levels until 2011. Currently, two underground drills are on site working to infill resources associated with the hinge zone in preparation for mining later in 2010.
An improved backfill plant capable of placing hydraulic backfill at a greater capacity is expected to be commissioned in February. This new hydraulic backfill plant is required to provide the quantity of fill needed to efficiently cycle the stoping lifts to minimize the filling cycle in cut and fill mining. The new plant will work with the existing infrastructure and expand the backfill capabilities.
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