Leading Australian mining, civil and minerals processing contracting group MACA has selected Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions to supply nine new surface drill rigs as a complete replacement for an aging mixed fleet at the Gruyere open pit gold mine in the Western Australian Goldfields, where it was recently awarded a five-year contract extension.
The order, which was booked in Q2 2023, includes six Sandvik DR410i rotary blasthole drills, two Leopard DI650i down-the-hole (DTH) drill rigs and a Pantera DP1500i top hammer drill rig. Deliveries began in July and will continue through April 2024.
Founded in 2002, MACA has specialized in mining, crushing, civil construction, infrastructure and mineral processing for more than 20 years. It employs more than 3,000 people across operations in Australia and internationally.
MACA has provided various services at Gruyere, a joint venture between Gold Fields and Gold Road Resources, since the contractor initiated bulk earthworks in 2017. Gruyere is expected to produce an annual average of 350,000 gold ounces through a current mine life of at least 2032.
Sandvik DR410i rotary blasthole drill rigs are compact, powerful and technologically advanced. They are designed for rotary and DTH holes up to 254 millimetres (10 inches), with a mast offering a first pass capability of 14 meters (46 feet) and a max depth of 32.3 meters (106 feet).
Leopard DI650i is a self-contained, crawler-mounted, intelligent DTH drill rig designed for demanding high-capacity production drilling applications. Pantera DP1500i is a hydraulic, self-propelled top hammer drill rig, ideal for production or pre-split drilling in large quarries or open pit mines and construction sites.