Geomechanics.io

  • Free Tools
Sign UpLog In

    Geomechanics.io

    Geomechanics, Streamlined.

    © 2026 Geomechanics.io. All rights reserved.

    Geomechanics.io

    CMRR-ioGEODB-ioHYDROGEO-ioQCDB-ioFree Tools & CalculatorsBlogLatest Industry News

    Industries

    MiningConstructionTunnelling

    Company

    Terms of UsePrivacy PolicyLinkedIn
    Projects
    Safety

    Golden Pole high-grade boosts Waihi: design and scheduling notes for mine planners

    January 15, 2026|

    Reviewed by Joe Ashwell

    Golden Pole high-grade boosts Waihi: design and scheduling notes for mine planners

    First reported on Australian Mining

    30 Second Briefing

    High-grade gold intercepts from Ora Banda Mining’s Golden Pole deposit are boosting the underground potential of the Waihi project near Kalgoorlie, with targeted follow-up drilling extending mineralisation along strike and at depth. The company is focusing on narrow, high-grade lodes accessible from existing underground development, aiming to convert recent hits into JORC-compliant resources and near-term ore feed for the Davyhurst processing plant. For geotechs and mine planners, the results point to deeper stoping fronts, tighter ground control requirements and potential schedule changes for underground access development.

    Technical Brief

    • Ora Banda is explicitly targeting narrow-vein stopes, implying tight drilling-and-blasting control and strict overbreak limits.
    • High-grade lenses within previously defined envelopes will demand refined geotechnical domains and local support re‑design.
    • Short lead time from drilling to potential mining elevates the importance of rapid ground mapping and re‑classification.
    • For similar brownfield underground mining projects, re‑using legacy drives can materially reduce new excavation‑related safety exposure.

    Our Take

    With gold highlighted in our recent coverage as edging towards $5,000/oz, high-grade results at Golden Pole and Waihi in Australia materially improve the optionality for Ora Banda in terms of timing any development or expansion decisions into a strong price environment.

    Among the 630 Mining stories in our database, Australia-based gold items frequently emphasise brownfields extensions around existing camps; Golden Pole and Waihi fit that pattern, which typically allows operators like Ora Banda to advance ounces with lower incremental capital and permitting risk than new greenfield builds.

    Safety-tagged gold project pieces in our coverage increasingly link high-grade underground targets to stricter ground-control and ventilation regimes, suggesting Ora Banda will likely need to budget early for geotechnical and safety systems if Golden Pole mineralisation extends at depth.

    Geotechnical Software for Modern Teams

    Centralise site data, logs, and lab results with GEODB-io, CMRR-io, and HYDROGEO-io.

    No credit card required.

    • Save and export unlimited calculations
    • Advanced data visualisation
    • Generate professional PDF reports
    • Cloud storage for all your projects

    Prepared by collating external sources, AI-assisted tools, and Geomechanics.io’s proprietary mining database, then reviewed for technical accuracy & edited by our geotechnical team.

    Related Articles

    Mining
    36 minutes ago

    Osisko–JDS Cariboo gold build: execution and EPCM takeaways for mine engineers

    Osisko Development’s Barkerville Gold Mines has signed a definitive project and construction management services agreement with JDS Energy & Mining to build the Cariboo underground gold project in British Columbia. A feasibility study completed in April 2025 outlines a “robust and scalable” underground mine, with JDS to coordinate detailed engineering, procurement and construction management across the processing plant, underground infrastructure and surface facilities. The deal signals progression from study to execution, with geotechnical design, underground access development and shaft/decline construction planning now moving onto a defined EPCM footing.

    TOMRA Mining waste sorting: design and value notes for mine project teams
    Mining
    37 minutes ago

    TOMRA Mining waste sorting: design and value notes for mine project teams

    TOMRA Mining is deploying advanced sensor-based ore sorting to convert mine waste rock and tailings into saleable aggregate for infrastructure, extending mine life and reducing primary crushing and haulage demands. By separating barren from mineralised material on conveyors using XRT and other sensors, operations can upgrade run-of-mine feed, cut energy and water use in downstream comminution, and divert clean fractions for construction uses. The approach opens a secondary revenue stream while lowering waste dump volumes and long-term rehabilitation liabilities.

    Mining
    about 4 hours ago

    Sandvik drill bit resharpening expansion: safety and productivity notes for mines

    Sandvik is adding the mid-range RG550Be drill bit resharpening machine to its portfolio, extending coverage across both top hammer (TH) and down-the-hole (DTH) drilling with a tiered line-up of high-end, mid-range and handheld units. The OEM is targeting improved safety and ergonomics in bit maintenance, moving more grinding work off manual benches and into enclosed, purpose-built machines. For mine operators, the broader range allows closer matching of resharpening capacity to fleet size and bit type, with potential gains in bit life and drilling penetration rates.

    Related Industries & Products

    Mining

    Geotechnical software solutions for mining operations including CMRR analysis, hydrogeological testing, and data management.

    Tunnelling

    Specialised solutions for tunnelling projects including grout mix design, hydrogeological analysis, and quality control.

    CMRR-io

    Streamline coal mine roof stability assessments with our cloud-based CMRR software featuring automated calculations, multi-scenario analysis, and collaborative workflows.

    HYDROGEO-io

    Comprehensive hydrogeological testing platform for managing, analysing, and reporting on packer tests, lugeon values, and hydraulic conductivity assessments.

    GEODB-io

    Centralised geotechnical data management solution for storing, accessing, and analysing all your site investigation and material testing data.

    AllGeotechnicalMiningInfrastructureMaterialsHazardsEnvironmentalSoftwarePolicy