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Canada
Copper Mountain Mine (Copper Mountain Expansion Project)

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 Location:
14 km S from Princeton, British Columbia, Canada

  Address:
Copper Mountain Rd 20 km south (of Highway #3)
PO Box 1400
Princeton
British Columbia, Canada
V0X 1W0
Phone(250)-295-0123
WebsiteWeb
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  • Overview
  • Owners
  • Geology
  • Mining
  • Processing
  • Production
  • Reserves
  • Costs & Financials
  • Fleet
  • Personnel
  • Filings & News

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Overview

StageProduction
Mine TypeOpen Pit
Commodities
  • Copper
  • Gold
  • Silver
Mining Method
  • Truck & Shovel / Loader
Production Start1927
Mine Life2054
Copper Mountain Mining Corp. (CMMC) plans are in place to increase the plant's capacity to 65,000 tonnes per day and to include the NI pit in the production plan starting in 2028, which will extend the LOM plan to 2054.
Latest NewsIndependent Proxy Advisory Firms, ISS and Glass Lewis, Support Hudbay’s Plan of Arrangement with Copper Mountain and Recommend Shareholders Vote “FOR”     June 2, 2023


Owners

Source: p. 14
CompanyInterestOwnership
Mitsubishi Materials Corp. 25 % Indirect
Copper Mountain Mining Corp. 75 % Indirect
Copper Mountain Mine (BC) Ltd. (operator) 100 % Direct
Copper Mountain Mining Corporation owns 75% and Mitsubishi Materials Corp. owns 25% in the Copper Mountain mine. All claims are controlled by Copper Mountain Mine (BC) Ltd., which is a subsidiary of Copper Mountain Mining Corporation.

Contractors

ContractorContractDescriptionRef. DateExpirySource
BC Hydro Power supply The site electricity supply agreement (ESA) with BC Hydro is set at a contract demand of 100,000 kVA, which is sufficient to support the CM Mill at 45 kt/d. Aug 1, 2022
unawarded or unknown Logistics and Material Handling The concentrate is loaded by a trucking contractor and hauled to Port of Vancouver for shipment overseas. Jan 8, 2022


Deposit Type

  • Porphyry

Source: Source p.18,72-73

Summary:

The Copper Mountain (CM) deposit is an example of an alkalic porphyry deposit, in which copper–gold mineralization is spatially and genetically associated with multiple pulses of volumetrically restricted, and compositionally varied, alkaline porphyry intrusions. Mineralization The bulk of the known copper mineralization at Copper Mountain occurs in a northwesterly trending belt of Nicola Group rocks, approximately 5 km long and 2 km wide, that is bounded in the south by the CMS and in the west side by the northernly trending Boundary Fault system. Here copper mineralization occurs as structurally controlled, multidirectional veins and vein stockworks, with peripheral disseminations. Mineralization had been subdivided into four types, as follows: 1) disseminated and stockwork chalcopyrite, bornite, chalcocite, and pyrite in altered Nicola Group volcanic rocks and LHIC rocks; 2) bornite-chalcopyrite associated with pegmatite-like veins (coarse masses of orthoclase, calcite, and biotite; 3) magnetite-(±hematite)-chalcopyrite replacements and/or veins); and 4) chalcopyrite-bearing magnetite breccias (Fahrni et al., 1976; Klue et al., 2020; Preto, 1972; and Stanley et al., 1995). All mineralization types can be found in each pit area, but each pit is unique with respect to the relative quantities and character of mineralization type. Disseminated and stockwork chalcopyrite–bornite–chalcocite-(±pyrite) mineralization formed much of the core of the deposit in the southern area of the CM Main Pit (formerly known as Pit 3). In the highestgrade areas that were mined underground, bornite and chalcopyrite veins have locally been replaced on their margins by minor amounts of bladed specular hematite, digenite, chalcocite, and epidote. These replacements are interpreted to be a late hydrothermal overprints on the bornite-chalcopyrite bearing veins, possibly during collapse and cooling of the magmatic hydrothermal system. Bornite-chalcopyrite mineralization associated with “pegmatite-like” veins are either barren of sulphides or contain chalcopyrite and magnetite with either bornite or, less commonly, pyrite. Historically, these have been subdivided into several different groups, based upon mineralogy: 1) barren veins; 2) bornite–chalcopyrite–(magnetite) bearing veins; and 3) chalcopyrite–pyrite–(magnetite)–bearing veins. Sulphide-absent pegmatite-textured veins occur locally across the mine area. In contrast, the distribution of the sulphide-bearing pegmatite-textured veins defines an “inner” bornite–chalcopyritebearing zone and an “outer” chalcopyrite–pyrite-bearing zone. The inner zone is situated along the northern contact of the CMS within the Nicola Group (in the vicinity of the historical Pits 1 and 3); however, these veins do not penetrate more than 1 m into the CMS (Stanley et al., 1995). Magnetite–hematite–chalcopyrite replacements and veins primarily existed in the historical Virginia Pit (now known as the CM North zone), and within prospects hosted by the LHIC. They are commonly dilatant, planar, and occur in “sheeted” parallel sets, but in some cases form crackle zones a few metres wide. They are mineralogically similar to the chalcopyrite–pyrite-bearing pegmatite-textured veins, but carry significantly higher gold grades (Stanley and Lang, 1993) relative to other mineralized zones to the east. Chalcopyrite precipitated after pyrite and magnetite within these veins and native gold has been observed associated with chalcopyrite over-grown by pyrite. Gangue calcite, is typically interstitial to magnetite and sulphides. Magnetite filled breccias with potassically altered clasts of Nicola Group volcanic and LHIC dykes occur within the Ingerbelle Pit and the north side of the CM Main Pit. They occur as elongate bodies along faults, or as roughly circular bodies at fault intersections. These breccias are mineralized with chalcopyrite and pyrite and are bounded by a higher-grade zone of copper–gold mineralization. The breccias include stockworks on their margins, crackle breccias, and clast-supported partially-milled breccias in their cores. The alteration mineralogy of these breccias is closely associated with magnetite–sulphide veins, and are interpreted to be a different structural representation of the hydrothermal event that formed the magnetite–sulphide veins (Stanley et al, 1995).


Mining Methods

  • Truck & Shovel / Loader

Source: p.29,137,140-141

Summary:

Copper Mountain Mine (BC) Ltd. (CMML) employs conventional open pit mining methods composed of blasthole drilling, blasting, shovel loading, and rigid-frame, rear-dump truck haulage. Blastholes (270 mm or 311 mm diameter) are drilled on a grid pattern, with blasthole spacing between 7 m and 9 m depending on hole diameter, rock hardness, and whether material is anticipated to be ore or non-economic rock (NER). The blasthole cuttings are mapped and sampled, with samples transported to the on-site analytical laboratory. Samples are pulverized and analyzed for copper. Assays are uploaded to the ore control department and combined with the exploration drill database, which is then interpolated onto bench plans together with blasthole grades and geological information. Grade boundaries are selected manually, and depending on the material, the blasting details are determined. Following blasting, the dig plans are uploaded to the shovels and dispatch system to direct mining and haulage.

Mining at the Copper Mountain Mine (CMM) is by conventional open pit methods, using a 15-m bench height. The major components of this mining method are blasthole drilling, blasting, loading, and hauling. Pit walls are designed to geotechnical specifications and vary in slope angle depending on lithology, alteration, and local ground conditions, with bench face angles of 70 degrees to 73 degrees, and berms of 9 m to 14 m, resulting in inter-ramp pit wall angles that range from 37 degrees to 52 degrees. Ramps are generally 33.5 m wide.

The mining fleet consists of two electric shovels, two diesel shovels, 28 (220-t) haul trucks, five drills, and related ancillary equipment. Blasthole pattern drilling varies depending upon drill diameter, rock hardness, and ore or waste determination, and it is typically a 7 m by 8 m pattern.

All blastholes are analyzed for copper for grade (ore) control purposes and blasthole samples are composited and analyzed for sulphur and carbonate to determine potential for acid rock drainage. Segregation of NER based on acid rock potential is not required at CMM.

Blasthole copper assays are imported into general mine planning, software and interpolated using an inverse distance to a power of two (IDP-2) algorithm method, and search criteria that closely match those used in the Mineral Resource estimation, into 7.5 m by 7.5 m by 15 m blocks. The interpolated block grades are used to design the subsequent dig plans with economic, and non-economic rock boundaries.

Life-of-Mine Production Schedule
Mining is carried out on a 24 h/d, 7 d/week basis, and the mining rate varies from 150 kt/d to 200 kt/d, depending on haulage distances, ore:waste ratios, equipment availabilities, and other factors.

Phase designs and ultimate pits were used as a basis for the schedule. There were 18 phases incorporated from the CM Main and North pits, and 6 phases from the NI pit. All phases used were designed pits that included berms (catch benches), batters, and roads.


Crushing and Grinding
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Processing

  • Flotation
  • Dewatering
  • Filter press

Flow Sheet: Source
Source: Source

Summary:

Since 2020 several projects have been completed to debottleneck downstream unit operations. These include Ball Mill 3, rougher expansion, Cleaner Column 3, and Filter Press 2. The completion of these project will allow the concentrator to increase production from 40 kt/d to 45 kt/d while maintaining a primary grind P80 150 µm without sacrificing recovery.

The CMM concentrator flowsheet is a relatively simple two-stage crushing, SAG, pebble crusher, ball milling, and sulphide flotation circuit design. The current capacity supports 45 kt/d of ore processing.

Flotation
The ball mill product is sent to the rougher flotation circuit, where it is treated by two banks of five TK-160 m3 mechanically agitated tank cells. Rougher concentrate is pumped to a 14 ft by 28.5 ft regrind mill for further liberation. In September 2022, two TK-300 m3 mechanically agitated tank cells will be commissioned as further expansion to the rougher flotation circuit. The rougher circuit expansion will provide 50 kt/d capability to the rougher circuit but also allow for increased retention time for difficultto-float ores at lower throughputs.

In August 2018, a new flash flotation circuit was installed to process a portion of regrind cyclone underflow. This circuit comprises an SK240 flash flotation cell followed by a TC5 cleaner cell. The intent of the circuit is to remove coarse liberated material to final concentrate, creating additional rougher mass pull capacity, while preventing unnecessary overgrinding, which historically resulted in gold losses.

Regrind cyclone overflow is pumped to two, 3.7 m diameter by 12 m high column cells for upgrade to final concentrate. In February 2018, these column cells were upgraded with a dynamic sparger system intended to improve fine particle and overall unit metal recovery.

In June 2022, a 6.0 m diameter column 3 began operation to upgrade the first cleaner flotation circuit, processing reground rougher flotation concentrate. This increased the cleaner recovery from 97% to 98% and was sized to handle up to 65 kt/d throughput.

In July 2019, a new second cleaner flotation circuit was installed to process flotation column concentrate. This comprises three 1.9 m direct flotation reactor (DFR) cells. This increased the final concentrate grade from 25% to 28% Cu while maintaining current levels of cleaner circuit performance.

Tailings from these columns are sent to a bank of five TK-70 m3 cleaner-scavenger tank cells. Concentrate from these cells reports back to the regrind cyclone feed pump box for further liberation. Tailings from this bank is joined by rougher tailings and reports to the TMF.

By means of smaller pump upgrades, the installation of the flash circuit, and column cell sparger upgrades, the cleaner circuit capacity has improved, allowing for higher mass pull despite the increased throughput compared to the original flowsheet design.

Gold and silver are recovered as by-products in the final copper concentrate. The historical relationships indicate that recoveries of both metals have a relationship with copper recovery, supporting an association with chalcopyrite.

Concentrate Handling
The dewatering circuit comprises a 16 m diameter, high-rate concentrate thickener, followed by a concentrate storage tank with 24 hours of capacity and a filter press containing 62 plates, each plate measuring 1.5 m by 1.5 m. In July 2022, Filter Press 2, containing 60 plates each measuring 1.5 m by 1.5 m, began operation. With the installation of Ball Mill 3, the primary grind P80 was dropped from 225 µm to 150 µm. The installation of Filter Press 2 was to maintain filtration rates when dealing with finer ore and was also sized to handle up to 65 kt/d throughput.

Filter cake concentrate drops into a storage shed with seven days of storage capacity. Concentrate is loaded into concentrate highway trucks and trucked to the port in Vancouver to be loaded onto vessels bound for Asian smelters.

Tailings Management Facility
The CM TMF is a centre-line, cyclone sand dam construction. The TMF is naturally confined by topography from the north and south, with dams constructed on the east and west extents. This facility started during previous historical operations on the property and was reactivated in 2011. Each dam crest uses a header pipe and four to five cyclones to generate sand for approximate 5 m annual raises.

The CM TMF design, as it is currently permitted, provides sufficient storage capacity to operate until end of 2027. Providing additional tailings storage to operate until 2044 at 45 kt/d.

The 65ktpd Expansion includes a new primary crusher feed hopper, modifications to the primary gyratory crusher, the installation of a High-Pressure Grinding Roll (HPGR) circuit, the addition of a fourth ball mill, a regrind verti-mill, additional rougher and cleaner flotation circuit capacity, and electrical system upgrades. The existing SAG mill will be retired. The fourth ball mill, a 22 ft by 38 ft mill, will be installed adjacent to the third ball mill within the existing building. With the addition of the fourth ball mill, the ball milling line will comprise four mills operating in parallel: two identical 24 ft x 30 ft mills, and two identical 22 ft x 38 ft mills (see Appendix 2 for the proposed 65ktpd process flowsheet). This work will allow for increased throughput with a slightly coarser grind size P80 of 165 µm as compared to the current grind size of 150 µm.

Recoveries & Grades:

CommodityParameter2022202120202019201820172016
Copper Recovery Rate, % 79.179.87877.88077.281.6
Copper Head Grade, % 0.240.380.320.290.310.320.32

Production:

CommodityUnits2023202220212020201920182017
Copper M lbs 88-98 ^539078727976
Gold oz 20,000-30,000 ^21,77128,73629,22726,74728,25023,600
Silver oz 350,000-400,000 ^247,291523,821392,494271,835273,910277,000
Copper Equivalent M lbs 64106998792
All production numbers are expressed as metal in concentrate. ^ Guidance / Forecast.

Operational Metrics:

Metrics202220212020201920182017
Total tonnes mined 52,755 kt56,897 kt55,045 kt62,129 kt74,337 kt72,598 kt
Ore tonnes mined 12,937 kt13,358 kt14,173 kt12,496 kt20,567 kt26,204 kt
Waste 39,818 kt43,540 kt40,872 kt49,633 kt53,770 kt46,393 kt
Tonnes milled 12,707 kt13,406 kt14,336 kt14,643 kt14,535 kt14,086 kt
Daily milling rate 34,814 t36,729 t39,169 t40,118 t39,822 t38,600 t
Stripping / waste ratio 3.08 3.26 2.88 3.97 2.61 1.77
Annual milling capacity 16.4 Mt
Daily processing capacity 45 kt45,000 t40 kt
Daily mining rate 204 kt198,900 t

Reserves at August 1, 2022:
Mineral Reserves are reported at 0.10% and 0.13% Cu cut-off grade for NI pit and CM pit, respectively.

Mineral Resources are reported at Cut-off grades 0.10% Cu.

CategoryTonnage CommodityGradeContained Metal
Proven & Probable 702,444 kt Copper 0.24 % 3,732 M lbs
Proven & Probable 702,444 kt Gold 0.1 g/t 2,313 koz
Proven & Probable 702,444 kt Silver 0.71 g/t 16,010 koz
Measured & Indicated 1,131,991 kt Copper 0.22 % 5,467 M lbs
Measured & Indicated 1,131,991 kt Gold 0.09 g/t 3,366 koz
Measured & Indicated 1,131,991 kt Silver 0.64 g/t 23,376 koz
Inferred 445,641 kt Copper 0.19 % 1,912 M lbs
Inferred 445,641 kt Gold 0.09 g/t 1,278 koz
Inferred 445,641 kt Silver 0.54 g/t 7,674 koz

Commodity Production Costs:

CommodityUnits2023202220212020201920182017
Cash costs Copper USD 1.38 / lb†  
Total cash costs (sold) Copper USD 1.81 / lb†  
All-in sustaining costs (AISC) Copper USD 2.65 / lb ^†   4.2 / lb†   1.84 / lb†   1.69 / lb†   2.06 / lb†   1.94 / lb†  
C1 cash costs Copper USD 2.25 / lb ^†   3.53 / lb†   1.49 / lb†   1.53 / lb†   1.92 / lb†   1.77 / lb†  
All-in costs Copper USD 2.7 / lb ^†   4.78 / lb†   2.12 / lb†   1.9 / lb†   2.44 / lb†   2.33 / lb†  
^ Guidance / Forecast.
† Net of By-Product.

Financials:

Units2022202120202019201820172016
Revenue M CAD 301.5  578.2  341.7  288.5   296   304.1   278  
Operating Income M CAD -25.5  290.4  90.6  -39.1   12.7   50.2   12.9  
Gross profit M CAD -11.3  320.9  104.6  25.1   25.3   59.1   19.7  
Pre-tax Income M CAD -68.3  252.5  81.5  -25.9   -25.3  
After-tax Income M CAD 23  148.1  50.3  -25.9   -26.9   67.3   11.6  
EBITDA M CAD -9.8  306.2  117.8  3.6   40.7   122.5   77.5  
Operating Cash Flow M CAD 19.5  315.5  121.6  51.2   51.3  


Water Supply
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- subscription is required.


Heavy Mobile Equipment as of August 1, 2022:
HME TypeModelSizeQuantity
Backhoe Caterpillar 420D 1
Cable reel truck Caterpillar 980C 1
Crane 275 t 1
Crane 80 t 1
Crane 28 t 1
Crane 18 t 1
Crane 8.5 t 1
Dozer (crawler) Komatsu D375A 22 cu. m 12
Dozer (crawler) Caterpillar D8 8 cu. m 1
Drill (blasthole) Atlas Copco DML 1
Drill (blasthole) Atlas Copco PV271 3
Drill (blasthole) Epiroc PV-351 2
Excavator Komatsu PC200 1
Excavator Hitachi ZX350 2
Excavator Komatsu PC400 1
Excavator Komatsu PC490 1
Grader Caterpillar 16M 290 HP 5
Loader Caterpillar 988 1
Loader (FEL) Komatsu WA1200 17 cu. m 1
Loader (FEL) Komatsu WA600 2
Loader (FEL) Komatsu WA180 2
Shovel (hydraulic) Komatsu PC4000 22 cu. m 1
Shovel (hydraulic) Hitachi EX5500 29 cu. m 1
Shovel (hydraulic) Komatsu PC8000 42 cu. m 2
Tire manipulator Caterpillar 980G 1
Truck (dump) Komatsu HM400 1
Truck (dump) Caterpillar 740 1
Truck (dump) Caterpillar 735 2
Truck (fuel / lube) 2
Truck (haul) Euclid R260 220 t 3
Truck (haul) Komatsu 830E 220 t 25
Truck (service) 3
Truck (water) Caterpillar 773 3

Mine Management:

Job TitleNameProfileRef. Date
Consultant - Mining & Costs Luis Alberto Chang LinkedIn Aug 1, 2022
Consultant - Recovery Methods & Costs Berge Simonian LinkedIn Aug 1, 2022
Environmental Manager Colleen Hughes LinkedIn Mar 30, 2023
Health & Safety Manager Jeff Zmurchyk LinkedIn Mar 30, 2023
Mill Maintenance Superintendent David Keyworth LinkedIn Mar 30, 2023
Mine Operations Manager Greg Wolbeck LinkedIn Mar 30, 2023
Principal author (consultant) Richard Klue LinkedIn Aug 1, 2022
Supply Chain Superintendent Cory Forcier LinkedIn Mar 30, 2023

Staff:

EmployeesContractorsTotal WorkforceYear
500 22 522 2022
514 2021
437 16 453 2020
460 2019
460 2018
461 2017
420 2016

Corporate Filings & Presentations:

DocumentYear
Corporate Presentation 2023
Press Release 2023
Corporate Presentation 2022
Management Discussion & Analysis 2022
Press Release 2022
Press Release 2022
Technical Report 2022
Annual Information Form 2021
Corporate Presentation 2021
Management Discussion & Analysis 2021
Press Release 2021
Annual Information Form 2020
Management Discussion & Analysis 2020
Press Release 2020
Press Release 2020
Press Release 2020
Technical Report 2020
Annual Information Form 2019
Press Release 2019
Press Release 2019
Technical Report 2019
Year-end Mineral Reserves 2019
Annual Information Form 2018
Corporate Presentation 2018
Press Release 2018
Management Discussion & Analysis 2017
Management Discussion & Analysis 2015
Management Discussion & Analysis 2014

News:

NewsDate
Independent Proxy Advisory Firms, ISS and Glass Lewis, Support Hudbay’s Plan of Arrangement with Copper Mountain and Recommend Shareholders Vote “FOR” June 2, 2023
Copper Mountain Intersects Highest Grade Copper-Gold Mineralization including 104 metres of 1.01% CuEq and Extends Mineralized Zone Over 200 Metres at Depth May 24, 2023
Hudbay and Copper Mountain Announce Filing of Joint Management Information Circular in Connection with Proposed Combination and... May 18, 2023
Hudbay and Copper Mountain Combine to Create a Premier Americas-Focused Copper Producer April 13, 2023

Aerial view:

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