Mining News: Northern Neighbors: Red Chris production up; Huckleberry Mine winding down

Imperial Metals Corp. July 15 said its three mines in British Columbia produced 39.76 million pounds of copper and 27,689 ounces of gold during the second quarter of 2016. The Red Chris Mine in northern British Columbia was the biggest contributor, producing 26.74 million lb. copper and 18,213 oz. gold, increases of 14 percent and 23 percent, respectively, during the first three months of the year. Mill throughput at Red Chris averaged 28,971 metric tons per day. Roughly 77 percent of the mill feed was mined from the Main zone, with higher grade East zone ore providing the balance. The ore grade averaged 0.59 percent copper and 0.40 grams per metric ton gold during the second quarter. Imperial’s Mount Polley Mine in central B.C. produced 5.31 million pounds copper and 9,476 ounces gold from 1,573,542 metric tons of ore processed during the second quarter. The ore averaged 0.22 percent copper and 0.28 g/t gold during the quarter, compared to 0.31 percent copper and 0.33 g/t gold during the first three months of 2016. The Huckleberry Mine in western B.C. produced 7.71 million pounds copper during the second quarter. Mill throughput averaged 19,426 metric tons per day of material averaging 0.23 percent copper. The milling of stockpiled material at Huckleberry will continue until the end of August, at which time Imperial plans to suspend operations and place the mine on care and maintenance, pending an increase in the price of copper.

-Shane Lasley