Kemess sets records

Vancouver — The Kemess South open-pit mine in north-central British Columbia produced a record amount of gold and copper in 2002 — 282,300 oz. and 72.9 million lbs., respectively, for an increase of 5,200 oz. and 6.6 million lbs. over 2001.

A record amount of both metals was also produced in the fourth quarter, Northgate Exploration (ngx-t) reports. The 3-month period resulted in 77,552 oz. gold and 20.2 million lbs. copper, compared with 77,452 oz. and 18.9 million lbs. in the final quarter of 2001.

The average millhead grades for the quarter were 0.73 gram gold per tonne and 0.23% copper, down from 0.79 gram and 0.255% in the year-earlier period. Millhead grades for the full year were 0.72 gram and 0.23% copper, compared with 0.85 gram and 0.25% in 2001.

Mill availability in the fourth quarter was 91%, exceeding the operating target, and gold and copper recoveries were a record 74% and 86%.

Northgate attributes the improvements to the commissioning of two column flotation cells in the second quarter.

Average mill throughput for 2002 was 47,420 tonnes per day, or 12% higher than in 2001. Throughput in the fourth quarter was 48,803 tonnes per day, compared with 46,920 tonnes a year earlier.

In 2003, Northgate will install an expert computer system in the mill to increase throughput and commission a new production drill in the open pit. The company anticipate an increase in gold production to 294,000 ounces.

In addition to the open pit, the Kemess South operation features a mill with a capacity of 48,000 tonnes per day.

At the end of 2001, Kemess South had a proven reserve of 132.5 million tonnes averaging 0.704 gram gold and 0.233% copper, plus an indicated resource of 56 million tonnes grading 0.39 gram gold and 0.161% copper. The estimates were based on gold and copper prices of US$325 per oz. and US95 per lb.

Since then, the gold grade in the reserve estimate has been increased by 10%.

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