Broken Hill Mines (ASX:BHM) restarted mining activities at the Pinnacles silver-lead-zinc mine in New South Wales, with open pit activity underway and drilling, blasting, and truck/shovel operations beginning, according to a Wednesday Australian bourse filing.

Up to 50,000 tonnes of high-grade ore were identified in the base of the existing pit, where mining was stopped due to logistical constraints of the COVID-19 pandemic. The firm is planning to expand the open pit into the Consols South, Fishers, Rope Shaft, and Junction areas.

First ore expected to be transported 15 kilometers to the Rasp processing plant in the June quarter. The restart forms part of the firm's strategy of a progressive ramp to full capacity of its 750,000-tonnes-per-annum processing plant.