Bird in Hand Gold Mine
Bird in Hand Gold Mine History
The original Bird in Hand Gold Mine, located in Woodside, South Australia was mined in 1881 and was the largest of 17 mines in the Woodside Goldfield in the 1800’s.
Many different companies, including the South Australian government, had interests in the Bird in Hand Gold Mine over the following 60 years. The mine was abandoned in 1935 and utilised as a water source for the Commonwealth Government supplying 180 ML of water per annum to the settlement of Inverbrackie until 1967.
Many of the local names of roads, properties and even products produced from in the area today include references to Woodside’s gold mining history.
Modern underground mining techniques enable the efficient extraction of the remaining gold, establishing the mine’s viability.
The Bird in Hand Gold Mine is located well clear of the main Oakbank to Woodside road on Pfeiffer Road. The property, named “Goldwyn”, in recent years has been used as a dairy before being acquired by Terramin in 2015. Terramin purchased the freehold land in July 2015, after purchasing the project in 2013 from Maximus Resources.
How will gold be mined at Bird in Hand?
The Project will see Terramin develop a small, high-grade gold mine beneath the old gold mine.
The mine will be developed utilising conventional drill and blast mining methods to make a tunnel to the ore. Excavated rock will be taken to Strathalbyn for processing.
Rock without gold (mullock) will be stored on the surface before being progressively returned to the mine to fill the excavated voids.
Access to the mine will be via a small entrance (keyhole) to enable a small truck (road going size) to drive down to lower levels.
While occasional blasting (one or twice daily) will be used to initially loosen the rock minimal noise and vibration will be felt on the surface.
The Project will involve:
Construction of BIH site infrastructure development, estimated to take 12 months.
Five years (includes the 12 months of site infrastructure development) “life of mine” based on the known BIH Resource.
Underground mining by mechanised cut and fill.
Ore transported off site to Terramin’s existing AZM processing facility at Strathalbyn.
Crushing and grinding of the ore at AZM followed by gravity separation and flotation to gold concentrate and possibly ‘gold dore’ (a gold and silver alloy).
Gold and silver products sold and freighted to domestic and international markets.
Although the deposit is small, the grade is extraordinarily rich. The concentrate to be produced will be high value with gold levels of approximately 170 grams per tonne gold and 80 grams per tonne silver.
The concentrate will be sold to market for further beneficiation and refinement.
High environmental standards
Extensive management plans to minimise noise, water table impact, fauna and flora impacts, dust and detrimental visual impacts have been submitted with our Mining Lease Application to the appropriate government agencies.
Government controls
The granting of a Mining Lease by the Minister follows a defined process. A Mining Lease application is developed which includes consultation with stakeholders (particularly the local community). The Minister reviews the project elements during the assessment to ensure:
There is a reasonable prospect that a mineral resource can be ‘effectively and efficiently mined’.
All potential environmental impacts have been identified.
The proposed level of impact (environmental outcome) is acceptable given the economic and social benefits.
The proposed control strategies will achieve an acceptable level of impact.
There is a control mechanism at all stages during the development of the Bird in Hand Gold Mine.
Strict obligations
The Mining Industry in South Australia is strictly legislated, operates to very high standards, and is well monitored.
In addition, as an ASX listed company, Terramin must adhere to continuous disclosure requirements and make truthful and substantiated comments about its activities.