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Location
The project lies approximately 450km east of Aktobe (formerly Aktyubinsk) and some 100km south of
Zhitigara in North West Kazakhstan, close to the Russian border.
The area presents favourable geography; the water table is within 25m of the surface and the flat landscape is ideal for heap leach processing.
Local Infrastructure boasts a new highway and the main Aktobe-Kostanai railway line, both within 6km of the site. A new 550Kv power line runs within 2.5km and 220Kv power lines run within 20km to the north (substation) and 60km to the west.
Development at the site includes completed operations camp and offices; construction of a plant, leach pad roads other necessary facilities is underway.
Resources
Located within the Urals Copper/Gold ore belt, exploration defined a significant Copper resource. Current open pit mining targets near surface oxide mineralisation. |
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Copper deposit discovered in 1968 |
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1976 - 1979: Soviet exploration; 21,800m of drilling
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2006: confirmatory drill programme (Coville) |
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Nov 2007: Frontier acquires 50% interest |
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2008 - 2010: drilling targets oxide mineralisation |
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Jun 2010: fleet purchased, operations commence |
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Jan 2011: WAI resource estimate 1.56Mt contained Copper (0.25% cut-off): 183,000t oxide resource; 1,378,000t sulphide resource (JORC-compliant) |
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Apr 2011: Frontier completes successful merger with Coville Intercorp Ltd; acquiring remaining 50% interest |
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Operated by subsidiary KazCopper LLP |
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32.6Mt Copper oxide resource @ 0.54% Cu |
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Oxide Copper SX/EW recoveries of 63%
Sulphide Copper flotation recoveries of 85% |
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WAI Bankable Feasibility Study currently underway |
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SX/EW project under construction (oxide resource) |
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Initial production planned for Q1 2012; reaching 20,000 tonnes in 2013 (subject to plant expansion). |
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