Mining and processing at the Magellan operation is simple due to the nature of the orebody. The Cano and Magellan open pits are shallow and are estimated to have a low strip ratio over the mine life of approximately 2.5:1.

Excavators are used to dig and load waste and ore into 85-tonne haulage trucks. Qualified personnel employed or contracted directly by Magellan Metals carry out mine planning and grade control. Apart from some blasting required for the removal of silcretised overburden, very little of the ore requires drilling and blasting. The ore is mined concurrently from a number of faces to provide a homogeneous blend to the concentrator. It is then stockpiled and further blended on the ROM pad.

Magellan deposit section Strip ratio 2.7:1

Cano deposit section Strip ratio 2.1:1

Recovery of concentrate from the clean oxidized lead ore is equally simple. Ore is processed on-site through a process of conventional crushing, milling and flotation concentration. There are none of the complications of a sulphide orebody. Concentrate is transported to the port of Esperance by road trains and rail then shipped to offshore smelters.