Cooper Exploration and Mining

Copper Deposit in Volyn Region

EXPLORATION AND MINING

Metallic mineral resources in the Volyn region are represented by a deposit of complex copper ores, and the ME "Volynpryrodresurs" holds a special permit for the industrial development of the copper ore occurrence at the "Zhyrychi" site, located in the Ratne territorial community of the Kovel district, covering a total area of 31.4 km². The special permit for the industrial extraction of complex copper ores, No. 6189, was issued on March 13, 2017, with a validity of 20 years.

Currently, the "Zhyrychi" deposit, located 5 km from the Ukrainian-Belarusian border, has been fortified with defensive structures and fully mined due to security concerns, making it impossible to carry out any preparatory or extraction activities at the site. The demining of border territories, which was additionally conducted due to military aggression and the introduction of martial law in accordance with decisions by the National Security and Defense Council and the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, will not commence until at least two years after the end of martial law. Consequently, the development of the "Zhyrychi" deposit is delayed and postponed to the future. Therefore, territories with the theoretical potential for extracting ore vital to our country cannot currently be used for peaceful purposes. The development of the deposit requires significant investments and the involvement of partners, which is not feasible during martial law.

1. Preparatory Work and Geological Exploration

Before developing the mine, geological studies are conducted through drilling boreholes up to 500 meters deep, including core sample analysis and geophysical studies to identify areas with the highest concentration of copper ores.

2. Site Preparation for Extraction

Site preparation includes the construction of the mine and the installation of necessary equipment. The ore occurrence development system ensures the preservation of the surface area, as operations are conducted at depths ranging from 250 to 450 meters.

3. Copper Extraction

After preparatory work is completed, the development of the copper deposit begins. The Zhyrychi ore occurrence is accessed using an underground mining method.

4. Ore Processing

The extracted ore is transported from the mine to the surface using elevators or conveyor systems. Copper concentrate is delivered to the surface for further processing and copper extraction.