Vancouver — Based on a project review completed in late December,
Constellation had hoped to get the open-pit, solvent extraction-electrowinning project up and running in mid-to-late January. The process plant is 95% complete, but a labour shortage in the western states (exacerbated by the holiday season and the need for skilled labour in the aftermath of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita) has the company waiting for personnel to complete pipe fitting in the process plant. The company says it is making every effort to locate pipe fitters to complete the last component of plant construction.
Meanwhile, mining, crushing and stacking operations have been under way since October. About 750,000 tons have been mined, crushed, stacked and acid-cured on the leach pad, and are now under leach.
Given the construction delay, Constellation says stripping of first cathode copper would likely begin three weeks after the plant is completed, which means full production would not be reached until late April. This would reduce 2006 production to 43.5 million lbs. from the previously projected 48 million lbs. copper.
The company hopes to make up the shortfall once the plant is up and running.
Constellation is continuing to explore its nearby Flying Diamond copper deposit, in neighbouring Colorado. The project is 4 miles from the processing plant at Lisbon Valley.
A 13-hole drill program in 2005 resulted in the discovery of a new deposit averaging 83 ft. thick, with an average grade of 0.71% copper in the 13 holes drilled. Further exploration drilling is under way, with results expected shortly.
The company is also developing its advanced Terrazas zinc-copper project in Mexico’s Chihuahua state.
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