Africa-focused mining and development company Marula Mining has reported that conventional openpit mining of the No 4 Pit, at its Kinusi copper mine, in Tanzania, has been ongoing, with shallow drilling and blasting of the exposed high-grade copper mineralisation by the company's partner Takela Mining Tanzania.

The company says stockpiling of the high-grade copper ore continues and is in line with the company's two-phase mine development and processing plans as announced on September 26.

Three samples, of 10 kg each, have been taken following a recent site visit by the company's executive management, with these samples to be sent to South Africa for testwork.

Marula says the results of this testwork will be used to optimise the design of the Phase 1 gravity concentrate, coarse jigging and fines dewatering circuit that is designed to produce 24 000 t/y of a high-grade saleable copper concentrate.

The company says new mobile mining equipment is scheduled to arrive by December 31 to allow run-of-mine production to achieve the targeted levels necessary to support the initial Phase 1 processing plant throughput rates.

The samples will also be used for hydrometallurgy chemistry testwork, copper leach kinetic tests and heap leaching polymer screening and column tests needed to be completed for the Phase 2 hydrometallurgy fines optimised heap leaching circuit, and copper solvent extraction and electrowinning refining process.

The company says it remains on schedule to award the Phase 1 contract for about £1.4-million by December 31 and discussions with several mineral processing and engineering groups in South Africa and in East Africa are progressing.

The company is also finalising the sale of three trial shipments, each of between 100 t and 250 t of the stockpiled high-grade copper oxide ores, to one UK-based and two Swiss-based global commodity trading groups.

The sales are part of the process to finalise a long-term offtake agreement for the planned export of copper concentrates and copper cathode.

The company says current sales price for a 20% to 25% high-grade copper concentrate are in the range of $1 200/t to $1 600/t and provide robust earnings based on current mining costs of up to $15/t and quoted contract transport and processing costs of up to $100/t.

"As we continue with the on-site activities, we are entering an exciting phase in the development of the Kinusi copper mine, with ongoing openpit mining and the stockpiling high-grade copper ore in preparation for the commissioning of the Phase 1 processing circuit in early 2025.

"During his recent visit, our chairperson Richard Lloyd observed the openpit ore mining activities that were being advanced by our partners Takela Mining and was able to see firsthand the safe and efficient operations and mining practices as well as the commitment to community engagement and employment.

"We are confident that the Kinusi mine will be a contributor to Marula as we progress the trial copper concentrate shipments this quarter and finalise discussions around copper concentrate and copper cathode offtake agreements,” says Marula CEO Jason Brewer.