Perilya extends Broken Hill mine life

Perilya's Broken Hill mine has received an extended lifeline with an increase in resources boosting the life of the operation from three years to nine.

The company today posted a 6 per cent increase in the mineral resource to 19.36 million tonnes contained 9.4 per cent zinc, 7.3 per cent lead and 90.8 grams per tonne silver.

Consequently, reserves had expanded to 10.02mt containing 6.1 per cent zinc, 4.5 per cent lead and 46.7gpt silver.

"Importantly, the Ore Reserves and the mining plan associated with this Reserve, establish a production life at the Southern Operations of nine years, under conservative price assumptions, compared to the previously anticipated two to three years mine life," Perilya said.

In August, the miner downsized the operations at Broken Hill by halving ore production and slashing 440 jobs as part of a restructure to keep the operation viable amidst falling commodity prices.