Small mines back to life by mining old deposits

KML Mineral Hill PYBAR

The high price of gold and copper has initiated an increased interest in redeveloping old deposits that may not previously have made economic sense.

PYBAR Mining Services has been instrumental in assisting mines to redevelop old grounds and strike it rich.

Kimberly Metals Limited (KML) is one such mining company that is reviewing its existing mine sites. After six years of exploration and refurbishment, it has opened its processing plant at the Mineral Hill Mine, 65 kilometres north of Condobolin in the NSW central west.

KML Mineral Hill PYBARPYBAR is providing plant, labour and mining consumables for the project and has been appointed to manage the rehabilitation and development of the underground mine over the next 12–18 months.

“PYBAR was chosen by Kimberley Metals because we have an established relationship. Our key staff has worked in similar mines and has had successful working relationships with projects managed by the members of the KML board,” says Agi Patrikios from PYBAR headquarters in Orange, NSW.

KML Mineral Hill PYBARKimberley Metals Limited has been busily refurbishing and modernising works at their processing plant since August 2010 in preparation for a recommencement of production from the mine. Initially the plant will focus on copper concentrates and the refurbished mill now has a capacity of 250,000 tonnes per annum – up from the previous 200,000 tonnes per annum capacity.

“PYBAR currently has 28 employees on site at Mineral Hill and will be carrying out the rehabilitation, development and production at the mine,” says Patrikios.

With gold sitting at record prices in the uncertain global economy and the insatiable demand from China and India for copper, one thing is certain, for the first time since the days of our pioneering forefathers, the smaller mines are again getting the chance to share in the profits and strike it rich.