Arimetco completes Yerington expansion

Oxide copper specialist Arimetco International (TSE) has commissioned a new 65,000-lb.-per-day solvent extraction electrowinning (SX-EW) plant at its Yerington copper mine in Nevada.

Once the tune-up phase is complete, production is scheduled to commence at about 25,000 lb. per day and build over a 4-month period to capacity as solution flows from new leach pads are increased.

Financed via a private placement of $8.75 million in convertible notes, the plant is expected to generate about 60% of the company’s projected revenue in 1992. Assuming copper averages US$1 per lb., Arimetco estimates that it will report US$32 million in revenues in 1992, up from US$10 million this year. After decommissioning, portions of the old plant will be reactivated and used to process solutions from Holcorp Gold Mines’ (CDN) MacArthur property about four miles from Yerington.

Under an agreement with Holcorp, Arimetco will treat material from MacArthur.