Windimurra Vanadium’s mining operation is relatively simple. It works with an open-pit mine as the magnetite ore sits either on, or close, to the ground surface.

Although the ore body is spread over a long strike length of approximately 20km, current plans are to deepen the open pit. Vanadium recovery from the deeper fresh ore is up to 20 per cent better than from the highly oxidised material located near the surface.

Mining will use conventional open-pit methods of excavators and trucks. Initial mining will extend the existing pit to both the south and west. The western extension will be by a west cut-back, followed by a north cut-back. Fresh material will be available from the base of the existing pit prior to plant start-up, allowing for maximum recovery through the beneficiation plant. The mining schedule ensures heavily oxidized ore is removed and placed in stockpiles within the waste dump perimeters. This allows the plant to receive a blend of materials over the 20-year mine life.

The 20-year schedule requires mining on a double shift for a short period within the first year of production to maximise removal and stockpiling of oxidized material. Following this, operations will revert to a single shift. The extra equipment availability will be utilised to haul coarse tailings and other dump management.

Waste will be stored in up to four separate waste dumps. The waste dumps are designed to be less then 25 metres above natural surface with no berms.