Hi (DDzx)They can go to I believe at least 600mt deep.SDL have...

Hi (DDzx)

They can go to I believe at least 600mt deep.
SDL have drilled down to 600mt deep.That was at Mbarga when they had Australian drill teams doing their drilling.
Since that time they have bought their own four drill rigs that are tracked drill rigs.These I believe will drill to at least 600mt deep.
The Itabirite at Mbarga is at least 600mt deep and still open at that depth.
The mine pit has been planned for 400mt depth.That is the depth that their JORC resource for DSO and Itabirite is built on.The extra depth from 400 to 600mt depth is not included in their Jorc resource for Mbarga.
In Brazil their are Itabirite mines that go deeper than 600mt depth.
One of Vale's Itabirite mines has been producing iron ore since 1947 and is due to run out in 2014.

Drill time lines would depend on the composition of the iron ore.SDL'S Mbarga pit is mainly fine grained iron ore,rather than lump.
SDL's DSO is mainly from surface,so they do not have to clear waste material off first.

Regards
Westcott.