(08) 9277 5177 website@smsmining.com.au

Saracen Minerals

Kailis Gold Project

April 2017 – June 2018 

LOCATION

Leonora
Western Australia

SERVICE AREA

Contract Mining

SMS SERVICES

• Maintenance
• Contract Mining
• Drill & Blast
• Load & Haul

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Kailis was purchased by Saracen as part of the $3 million deal for St Barbara’s King of the Hills mine. It holds a reserve of 106,000oz at a grade of 2.7 grams a tonne.

SCOPE OF WORKS

  • 15-month load and haul; and drill and blast contract
  • Peak workforce of 65 employees
  • Total material movement of over 5,200,000 BCM (waste and ore)
  • Initial closure for 8 hours of the Goldfields Highway in 18km stretches to transport a large 360T Excavator fully assembled from the neighbouring Thunderbox mine to site which measured 9.5m wide x 10.5m high
  • Significant water inflows for life of mine requiring specialised dewatering crews operating 24/7.

KEY PLANT AND EQUIPMENT USED

Hitachi EX3600 Excavator

Caterpillar D10T/R Dozers

Hitachi EX1200 Excavators

Caterpillar 16H Grader

Caterpillar 785C/D Dump Truck

Caterpillar 773 Water Truck

Komatsu HD785-7 Dump Trucks

Caterpillar 966H Wheel Loader

Total Mining BCM

Total Blasted BCM

SOLUTION / PROJECT OUTCOMES

SMS provided a rapid, turn key contract mining service to Saracen based on existing resources at the Thunderbox Mine, 90km north of Kailis and available resources in Kalgoorlie. SMS mobilised, established the site and mining within three weeks. This included the initial closure for 8 hours of the Goldfields Highway in 18km stretches to transport a large 360T Excavator fully assembled, measuring 9.5m wide x 10.5m high, from the neighbouring Thunderbox Mine to site. A first for the WA goldfields.

The major challenge experienced at Kailis was water management. The hydrology was known however not well understood.  Significant water inflows, over and above the original estimates, were encountered in the pit throughout the duration of the contract. SMS engaged a dedicated dewatering crew to manage water for LOM. Although outside the initial budget, this additional cost allowed the schedule to be met on time without any compromise to safety or the quality of work and service delivered.