Mining

The ZCMC operates its Kajaran deposit as an open pit mine which lends itself to bulk mining techniques with currently some 12.8 Mt of ore (and a similar amount of waste) removed each year.

 
Based on the most recent geological explorations completed 2006, the Karajan balance in-pit resources: B+C1 (according to the Russian classification system) total to:

Ore                                        2,21 billion metric tons

Copper content                       5.22 million metric tons

Molybdenum content               0.72 million metric tons

The mine benefits from natural advantages, such as the geographical location of the deposit on a mountain side, large homogenous ore zones with generally visually recognizable ore and waste, as well as good management and technical knowledge within the company, such as highly skilled operators, well established culture of mining, availability of spares, spare capacity of production drills and excavators, which enable us to produce the highest quality products and to plan future increases in production.

The mine utilizes drill and blast techniques to mine the ore and wastes, followed by a truck and shovel operation with ore sent either via in-pit ore pass and rail haulage to the primary crusher, or direct by truck. Waste is trucked to a remote waste dump.

 
The ZCMC truck fleet is comprised from large fleet of “BelAz” and “Caterpillar” trucks with load capacity of 37 to 134 tons. The main excavation equipment comprises 5m3 and 8m3 electric shovels. There are also several wheel loaders employs for selective mining.  Additionally, wide range of auxiliary mine equipment is utilized in mine operations, particularly dozers for bench stripping and waste dump operations, multipurpose tractors, water bowsers and other.

Our mining operations are managed with excellent standard of house keeping with regard to roads, benches and dust suppression which shows a high degree of operator skills. The mine benefits from generally clear ore and waste boundaries which help to reduce loss and dilution.

 
The pit benefits from low groundwater inflow, which means that only water from precipitation and surrounding creeks and rivers requires draining from the pit. As a result, the requirement for dewatering equipment is minimal. Currently the pit is being successfully dewatered by means of the existing drainage system, consisting of hillside ditches, underground concrete channels and pipelines.