NORTH AMERICAN PALLADIUM has completed the expansion of its Lac des Iles mine in Northern Ontario and is now reaping the benefits of higher palladium production. In 2002 the mine produced 219,320 oz Pd, up significantly from its 2001 total of 123,281 oz. Other metal production during 2002 included 19,180 oz Pt, 16,030 oz Au, 2.3 million lb Cu, and 2.76 million lb Ni.
Pilot plant work at the Lac des Iles mill indicates that metallurgical recovery can be significantly improved by finer grinding. Plant testing of this strategy is now under way. Historically, palladium recovery has been 70-75%. The Lac des Iles mill treated 4.85 million tonnes of ore with a head grade of 1.91 g/t Pd in 2002.
For more information about Canada's only primary producer of platinum group elements contact chairman Mike Amsden at 416-360-2653 or log onto www.napalladium.com . CMJ featured the mine in its August 2001 issue, starting on page 16.
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