For the first time in almost a decade, the Kalgoorlie Super Pit gold mine in Western Australia is being expanded.

KCGM Fimiston Open Pit. Image source ©KCGM

Kalgoorlie Consolidated Gold Mines (KCGM) will officially commence mining the Morrison layback, with the first production blast taking place on Monday 26 November.

Known as the Morrison Starter Pit, the layback is at the southern end of KCGM’s Fimiston Open Pit, and is the first new layback since Golden Pike commenced in 2009.

KCGM General Manager Cecile Thaxter said the start of mining at Morrison was a big step forward for the operation, considering the challenges that the Open Pit operations have faced since the West Wall failure back in March 2017.

“Our people worked collaboratively and tirelessly to redesign the pit and allowed for mining to commence at Morrison despite the loss of Y Ramp due to the May 2018 rock falls on the East Wall. Although this starter pit is smaller than the originally contemplated Morrison and Brownhill laybacks, it does provide flexibility with an additional mining area while we continue to progress remediation plans.”

Source: www.superpit.com.au