The Kupol open pit currently operates as a standard truck/loader operation, with the
crusher located at the processing plant, and the waste dump located approximately 2
km to the south at the tailing impoundment. The remaining strip ratio, 8:1, is less than
the original life-of-mine strip ratio that was calculated in 2006 was 12:1. The pit has
three main access ramps and it is currently being mined in three phases. The first
(South) phase extracts as much of the Big Bend orebody as possible. The succeeding
two phases extend the Phase 1 pit deeper and to the north.