Following the completion of a mapping programme and construction of a 3D geological model, the mine design includes a five-year mine production schedule to start operations on the outcropping pegmatite bodies and existing excavations of the historical pits.
The internal mine plan supports an overburden stripping ratio of less than 1, and a fast ramp-up profile using conventional open pit mining methods, with material liberated through drilling and blasting, and loading and hauling effected by combining excavators and articulated dump trucks.
The run of mine feed to the intermediary processing plant is set to be 500,000 tonnes per year with an expected annual production of 800 tonnes of saleable tin concentrate. For the following phase, the target remains 5,000 tonnes of tin concentrate per annum.
A plant location has been identified, the site layout and infrastructure is being finalised with earthworks and civil works construction is set to start during May with production on track for the second half of 2018.
"We are very pleased with the results of this early production phase Mine Design work that has recently been completed. Once operational we believe this will confirm the potential of the Uis Project as a world-class tin mine with low operational risks. Whilst we believe Uis has the resources to be a long-life operation, this phased approach, should provide a platform for sustainable early cash flows, said Chief Executive Officer Anthony Viljoen.
"It should also de-risk the implementation of a larger scale mining and processing facility which in turn should allow us to progress long term project financing options. We remain excited about the project progression and the long-term opportunity that AfriTin provides to investors in the world tin market," Viljoen added.
Shares in AfriTin Mining were up 4.1% at
Andrada Mining. (ATM)