Carrapateena is a copper-gold deposit hosted in a brecciated granite complex, located 500km North of Adelaide, South Australia. The deposit is being mined using the Sub Level Caving (SLC) Mining method at a rate of 4.25 MTPA. The Carrapateena SLC construction was completed in Q4 2019, with ramp up to a mine production rate of 4.25 MTPA completed within 12 months; ~ 6 months earlier than originally planned (OZ Minerals, 2020b).
Traditional SLC designs have had issues with safety interactions on production levels, namely at the perimeter drive, as well as presented challenges for the application of automation due to frequency of activity required to achieve ring turnover rates.
Safety in design provides an opportunity to learn from experience at recent modern SLC operations and by considering hazards early in the design process minimise exposure and improve safety, productivity and automation of mining activity.
This paper discusses the work carried out during the Carrapateena feasibility study and optimised during project execution; to update the SLC production level mine design, with a layout known as the Carrapateena Crows Foot Level Layout.
This paper focuses on:
• An introduction to the Carrapateena Operation and mine plan.
• An overview and historical challenges of traditional level layout.
• An introduction to the Carrapateena Crows Foot level layout, including production level design parameters as well as development metres and productivity comparisons.
• Outlines the benefits of the Crows Foot design for safety in design of SLC operations. Provides a roadmap for improved production efficiency, level operational philosophy and the application of automation within the SLC.