Mine preparation operations at the New Zarya deposit entering the final phase

(IDEX Online) – Mining operations to prepare for the new Zarya diamond deposit of ALROSA in the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), which has In June 2016, the mining company reported that the mine was entering its final phase.

During the last two years, 10 million cubic meters of overburden were removed from the open pit. The diamond mining, as planned, will begin next year.

It is estimated that the deposit contains 3.5 million carats of diamonds worth more than $ 1 billion. Its development will replace the declining reserves of the Komsomolskaya pipeline where mining operations are nearing completion.

"The overburden removed from Zarya is now 10 million cubic meters, the open pit has reached a depth of 100 meters and the kimberlite ore is below 20 meters of overburden. This year, construction of the drainage ditch, installation and adjustment of the pumping unit will be completed and the construction of the open pit should be completed in 2019. The open pit mine is expected to reach its nominal capacity of 1,250 million tons of ore per year in 2021, "said Timofey Baishev, deputy chief of production at the Komsomolsky open pit mine.

Development of the field is planned at a depth of 300 meters with the extraction of 12 million tons of ore.Open-scale mining of reserves is expected in 2030 to be completed.The average diamond content is estimated at 0.28 carats per ton of ore. Total investment will be about RUB 12 billion.About 130 people are involved in the operations of the open pit mine.