Company History
Endeavor Mine
Endeavor Mine is a major underground zinc/lead/silver mining operation in central New South Wales, 46 kilometres north of the town of Cobar and 700 kilometres from Sydney.
Operations commenced in 1983 and comprise an underground mine accessed by both decline and haulage shaft and serviced by a concentrator, drying, storage and rail facilities.
Since CBH Resources Limited acquired the operation in 2003 both the mine and processing plant have been upgraded. An important aspect of the mine upgrade was the installation of a pastefill plant to achieve an extended mine life through the extraction of pillars as well as primary stopes.
In 2008, in response to the Global financial crisis and depressed metals markets production was cut to 420,000 tonnes per annum and cost cutting measures implemented to maintain viability. With the subsequent recovery in commodity prices, production has been increased to its current operating plan of 720,000 tonnes per year to produce approximately 44,000 tonnes of zinc metal in concentrate and 24,000 tonnes of lead metal in concentrate.
At the increased production level current reserves are expected to support a mine life of approximately 6 years. The orebody has further mineralisation at depth, to the north and to the west and an exploration programme continues in these areas.
Rasp Mine
The Rasp Mine is located centrally within the City of Broken Hill and the leases occupy the central region of the historic Broken Hill Line of Lode orebody incorporating the original mine areas that commenced operations in the 1880s.
Underground development activities were suspended in June 2008 with the significant fall in commodity prices and subsequent global financial crisis. Following the takeover of CBH Resources Limited by Toho Zinc Co., Ltd.in 2010, the development of the Rasp Mine became a priority and by January 2011 development approval from the NSW Department of Planning had been obtained.
The project was officially approved by the Toho Board in February 2011 and GR Engineering Services, were engaged for the engineering design, procurement and construction of the processing plant. Construction commenced in March 2011 and practical completion was achieved on schedule in April 2012.
Underground development recommenced in April 2011 and continues on schedule. Activities are focused on the underground development and mining of the Western Mineralisation and Centenary Mineralisation along with the high grade pillars left unmined from the Main Lode Orebody.
Steady state production is expected to be achieved by Q3 2012. Annual production is planned to average 34,000 tonnes of zinc metal in concentrate, 28,000 tonnes of lead metal in concentrate, and 1 million ounces of silver in the lead concentrate. Rasp Mine employs 160 people and will have a mine life in excess of 15 years.