Favona Underground Mine
Late in 2004, construction began on the decline for the Favona Underground Operation. While some ore was mined during construction, full ore production from stopes began in 2006. In January 2012 the Favona Mine had around 23 km of drives, including the decline.
Production at Favona is now complete.
Modern mechanised mining operates from the bottom up. Mining began at Favona at a depth of 335 m below the surface. Mined-out areas (stopes) are backfilled so that we can access upwards the next level of the ore. Filling provides lasting stability and no large voids are left behind – as was common in the historic Martha Underground Mine.