Source:
p. 24
Summary:
The Morrison deposit is classified as a calc alkaline copper-gold porphyry with an alkalic trace element signature (Ogryzlo et al., 1995), which may reflect a mixed alkaline/calc alkaline parentage for the Babine Igneous Suite. The geologic settings of the host rock relationships, structural development, and the general style of the hydrothermal alteration and mineralization at Morrison are similar to other porphyry deposits in the northern Babine Lake area.
Hydrothermal alteration at Morrison is similar to that at other Babine porphyry copper deposits (Carson and Jambor, 1974). Alteration is concentrically zoned with a central biotite (potassic) alteration core surrounded by a chlorite-carbonate zone. A third alteration facies, clay-carbonate alteration, is considered retrograde and associated with major faults and shears and subsidiary fracture zones. No well developed phyllic zone has been identified.
Sulphide mineralization at Morrison shows strong spatial relationships with the underlying intrusive (BFP) plug and associated alteration zones. The central copperrich core is hosted mainly within a potassically altered BFP plug with intercalations of older siltstone. This plug was initially intruded into the siltstone unit as a near-vertical subcircular intrusion approximately 700 m in diameter. It was subsequently disrupted by the East and West Faults and now forms an elongated body extending some 1,500 m in the northwest direction.
Chalcopyrite is the primary copper-bearing mineral and is distributed as fine grained disseminations in the BFP and siltstone, as fracture coatings or as stockworks of quartz veinlets in which the chalcopyrite occurs as coarse grains (1-3 mm) within veinlets that range from 1.0 mm to approximately 15 mm in width. Minor bornite occurs within the higher grade copper zones as disseminations and associated with the quartz-sulphide stockwork style of mineralization.
Summary:
The open pit mine has been designed for four phases of pit development by conventional truck-shovel methods. The overall life-of-mine (LOM) strip ratio is relatively low at 0.825:1.0 waste to ore.
The current development concept for the mine is as follows:
- Phase I: West pit starter pit with a ramp that commences on the north side counter clockwise
- Phase II: East pit with stand alone access road from the north clockwise
- Phase III: West pit expansion with multiple switch backs
- Phase IV: East pit expansion.
When the pit bottom of Phase I and Phase II are mined, the pit bottom will be approximately 40 m wide.
Phase III and Phase IV pit expansion phases are typically no less than 60 m in width, which should provide adequate room for efficient mine operations.
Source:
Summary:
Processing of the ore will be performed on-site using crushing, grinding, and flotation to recover copper and molybdenum concentrates.
The flowsheet design is based on 30,000 t/d mill capacity with an overall mill availability of 92%, which allows for scheduled and non scheduled maintenance.
Run-of-mine (ROM) material from the pit is delivered by 227 t capacity haul trucks that dump directly to the 1,372 mm x 1,905 mm primary gyratory crusher. The gyratory crusher discharge is collected by a 1,830 mm apron feeder under the crusher. The feeder then transfers the crushed ore onto a 1,524 mm conveyor, which in turn discharges onto the crushed ore stockpile. The total live capacity of the stockpile is 30,000 t. A dust collection system is installed to minimize dust emissions.
Three 1,200 mm x 5,500 mm apron feeders withdraw ore from the stockpile onto the 1,372 mm wide x 201,300 mm long primary sizing screens feed conveyor at an average rate of 1,359 tonnes ........

Recoveries & Grades:
Commodity | Parameter | Avg. LOM |
Copper
|
Recovery Rate, %
| ......  |
Copper
|
Head Grade, %
| 0.33 |
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Projected Production:
Commodity | Units | LOM |
Copper
|
t
| 2,345,188 |
All production numbers are expressed as concentrate.
Operational Metrics:
Metrics | |
Daily milling rate
| 30,000 t * |
Stripping / waste ratio
| 0.82 * |
Daily mining rate
| 30,000 t * |
Waste tonnes, LOM
| 184,121 kt * |
Ore tonnes mined, LOM
| 224,252 kt * |
Total tonnes mined, LOM
| 408,371 kt * |
Tonnes milled, LOM
| 224 Mt * |
Plant annual capacity
| 11 Mt of ore * |
* According to 2009 study.
Reserves at March 12, 2009:
Category | Tonnage | Commodity | Grade |
Measured
|
98,142 kt
|
Copper
|
0.4 %
|
Measured
|
98,142 kt
|
Gold
|
0.19 g/t
|
Measured
|
98,142 kt
|
Molybdenum
|
0.005 %
|
Measured
|
98,142 kt
|
Copper Equivalent
|
0.47 %
|
Indicated
|
110,108 kt
|
Copper
|
0.39 %
|
Indicated
|
110,108 kt
|
Gold
|
0.19 g/t
|
Indicated
|
110,108 kt
|
Molybdenum
|
0.005 %
|
Indicated
|
110,108 kt
|
Copper Equivalent
|
0.46 %
|
Measured & Indicated
|
208,250 kt
|
Copper
|
0.39 %
|
Measured & Indicated
|
208,250 kt
|
Gold
|
0.19 g/t
|
Measured & Indicated
|
208,250 kt
|
Molybdenum
|
0.005 %
|
Measured & Indicated
|
208,250 kt
|
Copper Equivalent
|
0.46 %
|
Inferred
|
62,839 kt
|
Copper
|
0.38 %
|
Inferred
|
62,839 kt
|
Gold
|
0.19 g/t
|
Inferred
|
62,839 kt
|
Molybdenum
|
0.005 %
|
Inferred
|
62,839 kt
|
Copper Equivalent
|
0.46 %
|
Commodity Production Costs:
| Commodity | Units | 2020 |
Assumed price
|
Molybdenum
|
USD
|
29.2 / lb *
|
Assumed price
|
Copper
|
USD
|
2.75 / lb *
|
Assumed price
|
Gold
|
USD
|
658.32 / oz *
|
* According to 2009 study / presentation.
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Operating Costs:
| Units | 2020 |
OP mining costs ($/t mined)
|
CAD
| 1.49 * |
OP mining costs ($/t milled)
|
CAD
| ......  |
Processing costs ($/t milled)
|
CAD
| ......  |
Total operating costs ($/t milled)
|
CAD
| ......  |
* According to 2009 study.
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2009 Study Costs and Valuation Metrics :
Metrics | Units | LOM Total |
Pre-Production capital costs
|
$M CAD
|
......
|
Pre-tax NPV @ 8%
|
$M CAD
|
......
|
After-tax IRR, %
|
|
......
|
Pre-tax payback period, years
|
|
......
|
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