Overview
Stage | Permitting |
Mine Type | Open Pit |
Commodities |
|
Mining Method |
|
Mine Life | 25 years (as of Jan 1, 2020) |
The Yellowhead Project has potential to be one of the most significant copper mines in North America.
Taseko is advancing the Yellowhead Project into the provincial and federal Environmental Assessment (EA) process, as well as an Indigenous-led EA process. |
Source:
p. 14,15
Taseko, through its wholly owned subsidiary Yellowhead Mining Inc., is the 100% owner of the Yellowhead mineral claims.
Contractors
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Summary:
The principal area of mineralization on the project is the Yellowhead Copper Deposit (the Deposit). The northeast trending Harper Creek Fault separates the deposit into a west domain and an east domain. In the west domain, chalcopyrite mineralization is primarily in three copper bearing horizons. The upper horizon ranges from 60 m to 170 m in width and is continuous along an east-west strike for some 1,300 m, dipping approximately 30º north. Mineralization within this horizon occurs within felsic and mafic volcanics and volcaniclastic rock units. The middle horizon is not as well developed and is often fragmented. It primarily exists within a graphitic and variably silicified package of rocks that range from 30 m to 40 m in width at the western extent, increasing up to 90 m locally eastward, gradually appearing to blend into the upper horizon. Of the three horizons, this contains strong to intense silicification and localized tension fractures filled with mineralization. The lowest or third horizon has less definition mainly due to a lack of drill intersections. Commonly hosted within mafic to intermediate volcaniclastics and fragmental rocks, it can range from 30 m to 90 m in width although typical intersections are in the 30 m range. These horizons host within felsic and mafic metavolcanics and metavolcaniclastics and generally contain foliation-parallel wisps and bands as the dominant style of sulphide mineralization.
In the east domain, mineralization characte ........
Summary:
The Yellowhead Development Plan 1 envisions an open pit mine utilizing conventional truck and shovel mining techniques. The equipment utilized in this operation would be typical of that found in today’s large open pit operations. Open pit operations are planned to supply a conventional copper concentrator with 90,000 tpd of ore at a cutoff grade of 0.17% copper. Ore would be delivered to a primary crusher located at the southwestern rim of the ultimate pit. An ore stockpile would be built during the first five years of operation to maximize ore grade delivered to the mill during that period and provide an operating contingency. Potentially acid generating (PAG) waste rock would be stockpiled inside the tailings storage facility while non-acid generating (NAG) waste and overburden would be stockpiled in conventional waste storage locations proximal to the open pit.
The pit design is based on the selected Lerchs-Grossmann pit shell. A single-bench configuration of 15 m high benches is used based on the scale of mining equipment selected. Steeper inter-ramp slopes up to 150 m high are used with enlarged berms or haul roads breaking up larger slopes to honor overall slope requirements. Haul roads are designed 40 m wide to allow for double-lane hauling including allowances for berms and ditches. Single-lane, 27.5 m wide roads are used to maximize ore extraction and mining width at pit bottoms. Road grades are limited to 10% with flat switchbacks.
The total p ........
Source:
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Flow Sheet:
Summary:
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Source:
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Projected Production:
Commodity | Units | 2020 * | LOM |
Copper
|
M lbs
| ...... | 4,400 |
Gold
|
koz
| | ...... |
Silver
|
M oz
| | ...... |
All production numbers are expressed as metal in concentrate.
* Average annual production reported in 2020
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Operational Metrics:
Metrics | |
Daily ore mining rate
| ...... |
Daily milling capacity
| ...... |
Annual milling capacity
| ...... |
Stripping / waste ratio
| ...... |
Waste tonnes, LOM
| ...... |
* According to 2020 study.
Reserves at December 31, 2019:
Mineral Resource cut-off grade of 0.15% Cu.
Reserve Estimate at 0.17% Copper Cut-off.
Mineral Resources are reported inclusive of Mineral Reserves.
Category | Tonnage | Commodity | Grade |
Proven
|
458 Mt
|
Copper
|
0.29 %
|
Proven
|
458 Mt
|
Gold
|
0.031 g/t
|
Proven
|
458 Mt
|
Silver
|
1.3 g/t
|
Proven
|
458 Mt
|
Copper Equivalent
|
0.31 %
|
Probable
|
359 Mt
|
Copper
|
0.26 %
|
Probable
|
359 Mt
|
Gold
|
0.028 g/t
|
Probable
|
359 Mt
|
Silver
|
1.2 g/t
|
Probable
|
359 Mt
|
Copper Equivalent
|
0.28 %
|
Proven & Probable
|
817 Mt
|
Copper
|
0.28 %
|
Proven & Probable
|
817 Mt
|
Gold
|
0.03 g/t
|
Proven & Probable
|
817 Mt
|
Silver
|
1.3 g/t
|
Proven & Probable
|
817 Mt
|
Copper Equivalent
|
0.29 %
|
Measured
|
561 Mt
|
Copper
|
0.27 %
|
Measured
|
561 Mt
|
Gold
|
0.029 g/t
|
Measured
|
561 Mt
|
Silver
|
1.2 g/t
|
Measured
|
561 Mt
|
Copper Equivalent
|
0.27 %
|
Indicated
|
730 Mt
|
Copper
|
0.24 %
|
Indicated
|
730 Mt
|
Gold
|
0.027 g/t
|
Indicated
|
730 Mt
|
Silver
|
1.2 g/t
|
Indicated
|
730 Mt
|
Copper Equivalent
|
0.26 %
|
Measured & Indicated
|
1,292 Mt
|
Copper
|
0.25 %
|
Measured & Indicated
|
1,292 Mt
|
Gold
|
0.028 g/t
|
Measured & Indicated
|
1,292 Mt
|
Silver
|
1.2 g/t
|
Measured & Indicated
|
1,292 Mt
|
Copper Equivalent
|
0.27 %
|
Inferred
|
109 Mt
|
Copper
|
0.21 %
|
Inferred
|
109 Mt
|
Gold
|
0.024 g/t
|
Inferred
|
109 Mt
|
Silver
|
1.2 g/t
|
Inferred
|
109 Mt
|
Copper Equivalent
|
0.23 %
|
Corporate Filings & Presentations:
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