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.