Newfield Resources Ltd (ASX:NWF) has progressed its Tongo Diamond Project in Sierra Leone further toward development, with extensive underground work on the mine ongoing.
About 845 metres of underground development has been completed to date, the current focus being on the Return Air Way (RAW) to the first ventilation shaft, which is being developed on reef and yielding kimberlite ore for processing through the blasting process.
The company has also continued to carve out the Kundu Decline, developing the shaft at an 8-degree angle intended to reach the first mining level of Kundu Segment A, some 35 metres below the surface.
During blasting and development, underground support and infrastructure has been progressively installed.
Electrification, ventilation, compressed air and water pump stations are being installed as the development progresses, with four pump stations constructed so far to dewater the mine and provide dry working conditions. Additionally, a rescue bay has been constructed for safe refuge of the workers in the event of an incident.
Operations on track
“Following on from the AGM and project presentation released, Newfield is pleased to provide a more detailed update on the development of the Tongo Diamond Mine in Sierra Leone,” Newfield Resources executive director Karl Smithson said.
“Some 845 metres of underground development has been achieved to date. Kimberlite ore is being yielded from the RAW on the Kundu kimberlite, and we are currently stockpiling this at our bulk sample plant for processing.
“The decline towards mining Level-1 on Kundu is also progressing which will lead to the first mining stopes being established at Tongo and providing the first run of mine ore.
“The operations have not been adversely affected by the various worldwide travel restrictions caused by the COVID-19 Omicron variant, but we continue to remain vigilant and maintain our strict screening and sanitation protocol on the mine site.
“We look forward to providing regular monthly updates on the progress towards production at the Tongo Diamond Mine.”
Forward outlook
Newfield Resources is a resource company with a diamond mine under construction in Sierra Leone and highly prospective exploration licences in Liberia.
The company’s flagship asset is the Tongo Diamond Mine in eastern Sierra Leone. Following the completion of a Front End Engineering and Design (FEED) study in 2019, the company has progressed the mine development with completion of significant surface and underground infrastructure.
The next two months of development will involve the continuation of the Kundu A RAW development and the beginning of the ventilation raise, recovering ore from Kundu A in the process.
Additionally, the Kundu decline will progress towards mining Level-1 of Kundu A where a rock drive will be developed eastwards toward the first cross cuts that will access the first fissure raise and mining stopes of Level-1.