BHP closes parts of Perseverance mine after rock fall
Wednesday, 01 Jul 2009
Mining Journal reported that BHP Billiton parts of its Perseverance nickel mine in Western Australia are closed following a rockfall, the second such event to suspend operations this month.
Ms Samantha Evans a spokeswoman for the company said that a seismic event occurred at the mine at 11:30 PM Perth time yesterday, trapping one worker underground until about 2 AM today.
She said that all underground operations were closed and most of the mine has since reopened apart from an area surrounding the rock fall. She wasn’t able to say when the mine would wholly reopen.
Ms Evans said that a rock fall caused by another seismic event on June 11th trapped one worker, who was freed uninjured. That area of the mine is still closed.
According to BHPB, Perseverance is part of the Leinster nickel operation, which has a concentration plant with an operating capacity of 3 million tonnes of ore a year.
