Australian mining contractor Pybar achieved 414 development meters (m) during June at the Eloise copper mine, which is located near Clonclurry, Queensland. That development rate exceeded its previous best month of 363 m and budget of 370 m.
The team at Eloise has steadily increased the site’s performance over the last six months.
The work areas at Eloise are widely spread, and the record development was achieved by using two Sandvik DD421 jumbo drills, which have maintained availabilities of more than 87%. One of the jumbo crews focused on the upper and middle sections of the mine, and the other focused on the Eloise Deeps, which are some 1,500 m below the surface or an 11-kilometer (km) drive.
Given the hot and humid conditions that are often encountered in the mine, the 414 m-per-month performance is a standout for the site team at Eloise.
