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Canada

Gallowai-Bull River Project

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Categories

Overview

Mine TypeUnderground
StatusInactive / Suspended
Commodities
  • Copper
  • Gold
  • Silver
Mining Method
  • Longhole open stoping
  • Cut & Fill
Backfill type ... Lock
Mine Life... Lock

Owners

SourceSource
CompanyInterestOwnership
Purcell Basin Minerals Inc. 100 % Direct

Deposit type

  • Vein / narrow vein

Summary:

The Bul River deposit has been described as a Churchill-type vein copper-silver deposit (Lefebure, 1996). The deposit type displays characteristics of relatively low tonnage (typically range from 10Kt to 1Mt) but high grade (typically range from 1% to 4% Cu). Frequently occurring in Proterozoic-age extensional sedimentary basins, Churchill-type deposits are associated with rifting can comprise single vein to complicated vein systems that vary from centimetres to tens of metres in width, and can extend hundreds of metres along strike and down dip. Commonly hosted in clastic meta-sediments, veins and vein systems are often spatially associated with mafic dykes and sills. The veins are generally associated with major faults related to crustal extension that controls the ascent of hydrothermal fluids to favorable sites for metal deposition. Fluids are believed to be derived from those mafic intrusives that are associated with the vein systems. (Snowden 2013).

Mineralization in Churchill-type deposits is predominantly chalcopyrite, pyrite, and chalcocite with subordinate pyrrhotite, galena, bornite, tetrahedrite, argentite, and covellite and is generally younger than the host lithology.

The GBRM deposit is hosted within poorly exposed graded turbidite beds of the middle Aldridge Formation of the Middle Proterozoic Purcell Supergroup. Interbedded quartzites, siltstones, and argillites make up a turbidite sequence whose bedding plane strikes approximately east-west and dips 20° to 30° to the north (Baldys, 2001). The host rocks of the deposit are a northward pinching series of anticlines and synclines (de Souza, 2000).

The GBRM mineralized zones comprise a vertical to sub-vertical network of sulphide-bearing quartz carbonate veins striking approximately east-west hosted in sheared and brecciated Aldridge Formation sediments. Mineralization consists of pyrite, pyrrhotite, and chalcopyrite with minor local galena, sphalerite, arsenopyrite, and cobaltite and traces of tetrahedrite and native gold. Sulphides range from massive, irregular bodies within the vein system to thin discontinuous veins, veinlets, and disseminations in the host rock (Höy et al., 2000). Gangue mineralogy of the veins is variable, with the eastern parts of the deposit consisting of quartz and siderite. The western part of the vein system is dominated by siderite (Baldys, 2001).

Reserves

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Mining Methods

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Comminution

Crushers and Mills

Milling equipment has not been reported.

Processing

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Production

CommodityUnitsLOM
Copper M lbs 45
Gold koz 7.2
Silver koz 512
All production numbers are expressed as metal in concentrate.

Production Costs

CommodityUnitsEstimated
Assumed price Copper USD 3.7 / lb *  USD
Assumed price Silver USD 30.5 / oz *  USD
Assumed price Gold USD 1,550 / oz *  USD
* According to 2013 study / presentation.

Operating Costs

Currency2024
UG mining costs ($/t milled) CAD  ....  Subscribe
Processing costs ($/t milled) CAD  ....  Subscribe
Total operating costs ($/t milled) CAD  ....  Subscribe
* According to 2013 study.

Project Costs

MetricsUnitsLOM Total
Initial CapEx $M CAD  ......  Subscribe
Total CapEx $M CAD  ......  Subscribe
Pre-tax NPV @ 8% $M CAD  ......  Subscribe
After-tax NPV @ 8% $M CAD  ......  Subscribe
Pre-tax IRR, %  ......  Subscribe
After-tax IRR, %  ......  Subscribe
Pre-tax payback period, years  ......  Subscribe
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Aerial view:

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