A recent landslide at Medusa"s Co-O mine which blocked the adit entrance to the mine was cleared within a week of the event.

On 10 January a landslide blocked the adit entrance to the Co-O mine. Round-the-clock work cleared the adit entrance and services were restored to the mine. The landslide occurred after two weeks of monsoonal rain.

Mine drainage at adit level was re-established on Friday January 12 and power was reconnected on January 14, enabling the pumps on both the main levels below the adit to be re-started. Water levels in the bottom level of the mine (3050 metre level) had risen approximately one metre in the main drive and have recently been cleared along with rock and silt accumulations resulting from the uncontrolled water flow down through the workings while the power and drainage were cut.

An assessment of the slope above the adit has been carried out by a company engineer who advised that a full stabilisation program could take in the order of three to four months to complete. In order to reduce the risk of losing future access to the mine, the company has started excavating a new by-pass adit which will aim to connect with the 3W shaft position, thereby providing an improved loop rail system and improved safety.

The current adit is undergoing repairs including installation of closed drainage to prevent future blocking. During the repair work, the adit will be used during periods of no or low rainfall and at this stage it cannot be predicted what volume of material will be able to be hauled from the mine. Full operation of the mine is anticipated to be back soon.

Repairs to the mine access road are nearing completion to a standard whereby ore stockpiled at the mine can be transported to the mill.