With mine openings a rarity these days,
The volcanogenic-massive-sulphide deposit comprises three steeply dipping, northeasterly striking lenses that extend from near surface to a depth of 450 metres.
Total reserves of 1.6 million tonnes grading 4% copper and 1.2% zinc are divided among the three lenses as follows:
- 826,461 tonnes of 4.24% copper and 0.73% zinc in lens 1;
- 234,953 tonnes of 3.15% copper and 0.14% zinc in lens 2; and
- 488,745 tonnes of 4% copper and 2.51% zinc in lens 3.
A ramp providing access to lenses 1 and 3 extends 240 metres below surface and will eventually be extended to 465 metres. At the time of the opening, no lost-time accidents had been reported.
HBM&S, a wholly owned subsidiary of
Ore will be hauled in 40-tonne trucks to surface, crushed and sent to Hudson Bay’s concentrator and metallurgical plant in Flin Flon.
A 6.3-km ore-haulage road to Flin Flon has been built and the concentrator’s annual capacity has been expanded to 1.8 from 1.5 million tonnes.
Capital expenditures totalled $28.2 million, or 75% of the budget. Construction began almost two years ago, and today 64 people are employed on site.
In January, Konuto produced its first ore, and in July, it reached its full daily production rate of 800 tonnes. The mine life is pegged at six years.
The deposit was discovered in January 1994 as a result of an airborne geophysical survey that employed Anglo’s proprietary SPECTREM system.
Follow-up ground electromagnetic and magnetic surveys identified the Konuto Lake anomaly, which was drilled in May 1994. To date, 91 diamond drill holes totalling 30,039 metres have been collared from surface.
In the same camp, HBM&S is developing its Chisel North zinc deposit, near Snow Lake, and the 777 copper-zinc deposit, near Flin Flon. The work is part of a $360-million program due for completion in 2004 (T.N.M., Sept.27-Oct. 3/99).
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