Endeavor Mine is enjoying one of its best starts to the year in its 34 year history, having employed over 100 people in the first half of the year, while production has more than tripled compared to 2016 levels.
Endeavor general manager Denver D’Angelo said it has also been a busy start to the year for exploration drilling underground.
“A scoping study has been commissioned on the feasibility of mining to a depth of over 1,400 metres at Endeavor which is over 400 metres deeper than the existing lowest levels in the mine,” Mr D’Angelo told The Cobar Weekly on Monday.
“If favourable, this study will lead to the extension of the decline at Endeavor that may commence as early as October this year and has the potential to see production at Endeavor continue well into the 2020s.”
Mr D’Angelo said further expansions in production are currently being studied as favourable zinc prices continue to persist.
“There is potential to mine lower grade and independent parcels of ore that are currently outside of reserve however still profitable to mine and process at current metal prices.
“The increase in production associated with this may commence from as early as September this year,” he said.
Mr D’Angelo said as this material is outside of current reserves, the increase in production will not shorten the life of mine at Endeavor.
He said while many workers on site are currently employed through labour hire but a number are expected to be offered full time employment with Endeavor Operations.
