To many investors, geotechnical data may initially sound like dry engineering work—but it plays a decisive role in a mine’s future profitability and cost structure. Lake Victoria Gold (WKN A3E4WC / TSXV LVG) has now released key test results for its fully permitted Imwelo gold project in Tanzania, which will be directly incorporated into the final mine design.
The key advantage for the planned open-pit mine (specifically in “Area C”): While the deep bedrock is very stable and allows for steep pit walls, the softer rock near the surface is expected to be mined entirely without expensive blasting. This represents enormous economic leverage for the targeted start of production.
Nine drill holes provide the foundation for mine planning
The testing program was conducted by Luhlaza Advisory and Consulting in collaboration with City Engineering Company Limited. The evaluations were based on nine targeted drill holes within the planned mining area, as well as detailed core logging and laboratory tests. The latter included sophisticated procedures such as compressive strength tests, triaxial compression tests, tensile strength analyses, and density measurements.
The results paint a nuanced, two-part picture of the deposit, which Lake Victoria Gold is now using for optimal, cost-efficient mine planning:
Depth zone (fresh rock): exceptional stability up to 166 MPa
In the deeper parts of the deposit, the engineers encountered basalt, porphyritic basalt and granite. These rock units exhibit strong to very strong mechanical properties. The measured uniaxial compressive strengths reach peak values of up to 166 MPa. For investors, this means the rock offers excellent conditions for extremely stable pit walls. Subject to detailed design, steeper slope angles can be implemented here, which significantly reduces costly waste stripping (strip ratio) at depth.
Surface zone (oxide zone): “free-digging” saves blasting costs
A completely different picture emerges in the upper, oxidized saprock zone, which extends from the surface to a depth of 0 to 60 meters. Due to the lower rock strength, more conservative, shallower slope angles and localized stability measures are required here. However, this apparent disadvantage is more than offset by another operational advantage: The material possesses so-called “free-digging” properties. It can be mined directly with heavy equipment in the early operational phase without the need for costly drilling and blasting (Drill & Blast) beforehand. This significantly reduces initial mining costs.
All the puzzle pieces for a construction-ready overall model
For Lake Victoria Gold, these data represent a technical milestone on the path to development readiness. The company is currently integrating the geotechnical parameters into several parallel work streams. They form the basis for:
- Final pit optimization (Area C) and revision of the strip ratio
- The detailed production and schedule plan
- Detailed stability analyses
- Metallurgical process design and optimization of the flowsheet
- General infrastructure and site planning
With the completion of this program, the Imwelo project is increasingly moving beyond the theoretical planning phase. The precise geotechnical framework data for Area C now enables a detailed and robust engineering model—the fundamental prerequisite for successfully advancing project financing, site preparation, and ultimately the construction of the mine.
