Kidston Gold Mines commenced mining in 1984 and currently mine approximately 10 million tonnes per annum of ore and waste using a conventional truck and shovel open pit method._x000D_
The overall mine grade is a low 1.82 grams per tonne._x000D_
The mineralisation is generally uniform within the ore zones and mining boundaries are staked out from blasthole assays according to pre-determined cut-off grades. Buffer blasting is necessary to minimise post-blast lateral movement of in-situ grade for digging control._x000D_
The characteristics of the rock currently mined vary widely from soft oxidised to hard unweathered rocks._x000D_
Blasting problems have been experienced during the initial mining phase in these harder rocks.