San Manuel - Drifting Opens Huge Orebody For Block Caving

INITIAL development of the south orebody at San Manuel is being carried out from the No. 1 and No. 2 shafts. The haulage and grizzly levels are being driven to develop the upper one third of the massive hydrothermally altered and fractured monzonite orebody. This first haulage level has been placed at the 1475-ft level with a grizzly level 60 ft above. The grizzly level will be connected to all service shafts so that men and supplies can come down to the grizzly level and go to working places without congesting the haulage level. These connections are also a vital part of the ventilation plan. The haulage level is being advanced along the north and south fringes of the orebody and connections are being driven to the three shafts now under construction. The No. 1 and No. 2 shafts will serve the development work with supplies, skip hoisting, and ventilation at each shaft and the two shafts are connected on both the grizzly and haulage level.