Copper producer Gibraltar Mines (TSE) is continuing to evaluate the Mount Polley copper-gold deposit near Williams Lake, B.C., under a joint-venture agreement with owner Imperial Metals (TSE).
The goal is to place the deposit into production, with Gibraltar contributing its mobile mining fleet and McLeese Lake mill. (Alternatively, the mine would be operated on a stand-alone basis with Gibraltar as operator.) Mount Polley hosts geological reserves of 254 million tons grading 0.26% copper and 0.01% gold per ton. Gibraltar recently completed 4,000 ft. of drilling in seven holes within the proposed open-pit area in an attempt to confirm grade and thickness within a 54-million-ton initial pit reserve. Five sample test pits were drilled and blasted for metallurgical studies. Recent bench-scale tests by Gibraltar have reportedly confirmed results obtained in a 1990 feasibility study (76.6% for copper and 81.2% for gold). Imperial says these initial tests point to the possibility of a further improvement in copper recoveries from a near-surface oxide cap. Permits are being sought for a transportation corridor. Conveyor and off-highway truck transport are two options being studied.
Be the first to comment on "Gibraltar advancing Mt. Polley deposit"