U.S.REPORT Copper Range buys mill section for mine

For US$4 million, Copper Range Mining has purchased a 6,000-ton- per-day mill section from Round Mountain Gold. Copper Range is a unit of Metall Mining (TSE), while Round Mountain is a subsidiary of Echo Bay Mines (TSE). The mill section is in White Pine, MI, where Copper Range operates an underground copper mine. Through the purchase, Copper Range will increase its total milling capacity to approximately 23,000- ton-per-day by 1991.

The purchase is part of a program to increase production and reduce operating costs, says Copper Range. In fact, the expansion coincides with an expected increase in copper cathode production to 112 million lb. in 1990 (from 92 million in 1989), and to 130 million lb. by 1992. Proven and probable reserves at the mine property total 180.7 million tons, including 4.5 billion lb. copper, for a projected mine life of 30 years.

Included in the section facilities are a ball mill, a rod mill, a regrind mill and 184 cells in primary, secondary, cleaner and recleaner flotation. The section, inoperative since 1977, will require modifications to conform to the current Copper Range mill flow sheet.

The company paid half the purchase price in cash, and will pay the other US$2 million by the end of this year.