COPPER MINING: Gibraltar production hampered by unstable pit wall

BRITISH COLUMBIA — Lower grade and metal recoveries reduced output from the Gibraltar mine near Williams Lake by 4.0 million lb of copper and 100,0000 lb of molybdenum during Q3. Owner/operator Taseko Mines of Vancouver said total output was 14.0 million lb of copper and 112,000 lb of molybdenum.

Output was reduced during the quarter because of surface soil instability at the edge of the Granite pit, which occurred in mid-July. As a result, operations had to deviate from the mine plan for the balance of the quarter, said the company. That meant mining lower grade ore than was in the plan, and treating the lower grade material resulted in decreased metal recoveries.

Taseko says the geotechnical issue has been resolved and mine operations returned to mine plan grade in October.

The mill is in the second phase of expansion that will take it to 55,000 t/d. Learn more at www.TasekoMines.com.