This paper describes the challenges of mining a sill pillar under various types of paste backfill quality. From 1994 to 2002, Louvicourt mine produced approximately 12,600,0001 grading 3,5 percent Cu, 1.5 percent Zn, 27 g/mt Ag, and 0.85 g/mt Au. The mining method is transverse blasthole stoping, mining primary and secondary slopes. The production of this 4,300 t/d operation was accomplished using two mining horizons: from the 655 m level to the 415m level and from the 860 m level to the 680 m level. The main sill pillar is between the 680 m level and the 655 m level. Since 2002, production has gradually decreased and mining activities are expected to end in mid-2005. The sill pillar production will represent almost 25 percent of the total mine production. To recover the sill pillars, more than 1,500 m of development was planned in or under paste backfill.
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