Kuvimba Mining House (KMH)‘s Shamva Mine is currently operating as an underground mine and employs innovative Sublevel Open Stoping mining methods that are tailored to the geometry of the ore body.
Sublevel Open Stoping is a mining method that is known for its efficiency and safety. The method involves mining the ore body in horizontal slices or levels. The levels are drilled and blasted, and then the broken ore is transported to the surface for processing. The approach is especially suited for the extraction of narrow veins and lodes that can be found in underground deposits.
According to Shamva Mine General Manager Gift Mapakame, two variants of Sublevel Open Stoping mining methods are applied. Long-hole Stoping is used when the ore block is more regular, broad, and continuous in mineralization. The approach is known for its massive ore generation and is ideal for mining high-grade gold deposits. Long-hole Stoping is particularly suited for deposits that can be accessed through open pits.
“Shamva Mine is currently operated as an underground mine which employs Sublevel Open Stoping mining method applied in Longhole Stoping and Underhand Stoping variants. The variants are utilized to respond to the geometry of the ore body. Underhand Stoping is opted when the ore block requires more selective mining particularly in narrow veins to manage dilution whereas long-hole is opted when the block is more regular, broad and more continuous in mineralization. The latter earns itself to massive ore generation whereas the former is limits ore generation into smaller drill & blast cycles,”
On the other hand, Underhand Stoping is used in instances where the ore block requires more selective mining. This is often the case with narrow veins where dilution needs to be managed carefully. Underhand Stoping is an effective approach to mining narrow veins and is known for limiting ore generation into smaller drill and blast cycles.
By employing these innovative mining methods, Shamva Mine is able to optimize its efficiency and productivity in its mining operations. The company has seen an increase in the amount of precious metals extracted and processed, which translates into higher revenue and profits. Moreover, the innovative methods have ensured the safety of the employees by minimizing potential hazards and risks in the mining process.
Shamva Mine’s application of Sublevel Open Stoping mining methods has proved to be highly effective in the extraction of precious metals. More importantly, the methods have enabled the company to operate safely while maximizing its efficiency and productivity.
The Shamva mine project has a lifespan of 14 years producing 2.6 tonnes of gold per year.
