Altiplano Metals Inc. (TSX-V:APN) has completed the planned expansion of the Hugo Decline to the 360 meter working level at the Farellon copper-gold mine in Chile.
The roughly 110 meter (m) expansion to the 360m level is designed to provide two new mining access points along the northeast (NE) and southwest (SW) drifts where mining has begun.
This work is part of the ongoing underground development and sustainability initiatives at Farellon. The company is actively expanding the underground operations to increase efficiencies, improve grade, and access new working mining headings.
READ: Altiplano obtains Exploitation Permit at Maria Luisa
The work is being conducted in tandem with diamond drilling and ventilation efficiency improvements currently in process. With access to the 360m level, the company is currently operating on numerous NE and SW headings, in addition to employing bench mining techniques to remove mineralized material from the floor and roofs between previous working levels.
Altiplano said the next scheduled advance will be about 80m to reach the 352m level. It is expected to begin in mid-November.
"I am pleased to see the consistency of our development at Farellon with the addition of another working level,” said CEO Alastair McIntyre in a statement.
“This development work ensures that we have sufficient working levels to improve output and manage grade as we work towards maximizing output and increasing revenues once the construction of the permitted mill has been completed."
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