Our plans within the Retention Licence area (RL2018), is to eventually develop at least one economically viable underground mining operation. Full scale mining is not permitted under a retention licence (RL). The purpose of the retention licence is to allow us to do work in order to assess if a mine, or mines, would actually be commercially, socially and environmentally viable. Limited trial mining to obtain and process a bulk sample may be permitted under the RL, provided that we submit a detailed proposal to the Regulators, and that the details of that proposal (or of any requested amendments to the proposal) are acceptable to them.
If in the course of our work we confirm sufficient resources that indicate that a mine or mines will probably be viable, then, we will take the next step and apply for a mining licence over the appropriate area. Our aim is to keep any inconvenience or disturbance to the local community at a minimum and to conduct our operations so as to be as unobtrusive as possible.
We value the peaceful and visually attractive amenity of the area as much as you do!
Inevitably there are likely to be some short-term programs of work that will be noticeable to local residents, (such as occasional drilling programs), however we will take steps to minimise any inconvenience or disturbance.
This is a summary of the likely works that may take place, some of which may occasionally be noticeable:
Office based validation of data from historical mining and recent exploration work in the area.
Unobtrusive geophysical programs.
Conduct associated 3D projection work in order to assist with the selection of drilling targets.
Shallow trenching to assist with geological mapping and structural interpretation.
Ongoing field geological and structural mapping to firm up or identify additional drilling targets.
Then, based on the results of the studies outlined above:
- Possibly some follow-up geophysics studies.
- Eventually, probably two or more drilling programs.
- The community will be notified well in advance and permissions will be sought from anyone likely to be affected
- Pre-feasibility, technical, and economic studies, etc.