Safety inspectors are investigating a blasting mishap at an underground gold mine in WA's Goldfields – the third serious incident involving explosives in the region in as many months.
The Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety (DMIRS) confirmed it was investigating an incident that occurred on Thursday at Frog's Leg gold mine, 20 kilometres west of Kalgoorlie-Boulder.
Sources have told the ABC that significant underground infrastructure, including the explosives magazine, was damaged during the routine firing of a stope.
A stope is a tunnel or excavation site.
The ABC understands an unusually large air blast, or airborne shock wave that results from the detonation of explosives, caused the damage.
Acting WorkSafe chief inspector of mines Christina Folley said there were no reports of injuries.
Mining at Frog's Leg has been temporarily halted.
Operations to resume in the coming days
Frog's Leg is part of Evolution Mining's Mungari operations, which also includes the Kundana underground mines.
The Sydney-based company, which ranks as Australia's third-largest gold producer, played down the damage at Frog's Leg as "minor" in a statement today.
"No personnel were at risk or harmed as the mine was cleared for blasting at the time, as per our normal procedure," the statement read.
"Our team have inspected the area and we expect operations to resume safely in the coming days following a re-entry process underway and the conclusion of an investigation, working with DMIRS."
Serious incidents under investigation
The latest incident comes after two workers were injured in a blasting incident in October at the Kanowna Belle gold mine near Kalgoorlie-Boulder.
Two charge crew operators were clearing a misfired charge when it unexpectedly initiated.
In the same month, a semi-trailer carrying ammonium nitrate in the north-eastern Goldfields exploded after one of its wheels caught fire, blasting a large crater into the middle of the Great Central Road.
October was a horror month for the mining industry, which was rocked by two fatalities.
A 59-year-old Perth man died in the Pilbara when the light vehicle he was driving was run over by a dump truck at the Karlawinda gold mine, 65 kilometres south-east of Newman.
Earlier in the month, FIFO worker Terry Hogan, 37, died in a rockfall incident at the Hamlet underground gold mine near Kambalda.
According to Evolution Mining's website, Frog's Leg uses emulsion explosives for stoping and ANFO (ammonium nitrate fuel oil) explosives with non-electric initiation for underground development.
Gold was discovered at Frog's Leg in 1999 and the site was mined as an open pit from 2004, until heading underground in August 2007.
The mine's reserves are due to run out in early 2023.
