Western Mining Corporation began shaft sinking operations at it's Foster orebody, south of Kambalda, on the 20th June, 1984._x000D_
The top levels of the orebody are currently being mined via a decline some 1.5km away._x000D_
Long term plans require the shaft and decline to combine and produce 400,000 tonnes of nickel ore per annum. Eventually all of the ore produced will be hauled up the shaft._x000D_
The shaft is 4.5m in diameter and the target depth is 760m. Ground conditions to date suggest there will be no further need for concrete lining beyond the oxidised zone. As such, the sink is an open-shaft development in competent basalt rock. Shaft furniture will be installed on completion of the excavation to the target depth._x000D_
This paper summarises the experience in the project to date, along with comparisons to conventional shaft sinking methods employed in previous years at Kambalda Nickel Operations.