Broken Hill Mines unveils new drilling method to access long-blocked mineral zone

Broken Hill Mines, led by executive chair Patrick Walta, announced a novel drilling solution that penetrates the Glove-Vauxhall Shear, a multi-meter-thick deformation that has blocked access to the Centenary Zone since its discovery in 1983. By drilling a large-diameter shaft, casing it, and then sending smaller daughter holes through, the team was able to sample the deposit beyond the barrier. Preliminary data indicate the ore could be several times thicker and almost twice as high in zinc equivalent compared with the original five-million-tonne estimate.

Walta said this could extend the life of the existing processing plant and secure a long-term feed source. Geologist Sandra Close expressed optimism about the technical breakthrough but cautioned that developing infrastructure such as ventilation shafts in the difficult ground will be a major challenge.