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Canada

Yellowhead Project

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Overview

Mine TypeOpen Pit
StagePermitting
Commodities
  • Copper
  • Gold
  • Silver
Mining Method
  • Truck & Shovel / Loader
Mine Life... Lock
SnapshotThe 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.

Owners

SourceSource
CompanyInterestOwnership
Taseko Mines Ltd. 100 % Indirect
Taseko, through its wholly owned subsidiary Yellowhead Mining Inc., is the 100% owner of the Yellowhead mineral claims.

Contractors

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Deposit type

  • VMS

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 characterized by high angle, discontinuous, tension fractures of pyrrhotite, chalcopyrite ± bornite is frequently associated with quartz carbonate gangue. This style is common within, but not limited to, the metasedimentary rocks and areas of increased pervasive silicification. Mineralization is not selective to individual units and frequently transgresses lithological contacts throughout the area. Locating mineralized horizons in this area has proven difficult due to multiple east-west trending and northward dipping interpreted thrust faults (or possible reverse faults). At the near surface areas in the south and down-dip to the north, widths of mineralization typically range from 120 m to 160 m. In the central area of the east domain where thrust/reverse fault stacking has been interpreted, mineralization thicknesses typically range from 220 m to 260 m with local intersections of up to 290 m. Mafic metavolcanics and coarse-grained quartz-rich metasedimentary rocks generally contain higher grade copper mineralization.

Interpretation of the deposit type is that of a remobilized polymetallic volcanogenic massive sulphide deposit, comprising lenses of disseminated, fracture-filling and banded iron and copper sulphides with accessory magnetite. Mineralization is generally conformable with the host-rock stratigraphy as is consistent with the volcanogenic model. Observed sulphide lenses measure many tens of metres in thickness with kilometer-scale strike and dip extents. In 2009, YMI conducted a program of field mapping, sampling, relogging, petrographic examination of existing thin sections and re-assessment of the total digestion geochemical dataset that confirmed the deposit type hypothesis for the deposit (Armstrong and Hawkins, 2009).

Reserves

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Mining Methods

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Comminution

Crushers and Mills

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Processing

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Production

CommodityUnits2020LOM
Copper M lbs  ....  Subscribe4,400
Gold koz 440
Silver M oz 19
All production numbers are expressed as metal in concentrate. * Production numbers were reported as 'Average annual'

Operational metrics

Metrics
Daily ore mining rate  ....  Subscribe
Daily milling capacity  ....  Subscribe
Annual milling capacity  ....  Subscribe
Stripping / waste ratio  ....  Subscribe
Waste tonnes, LOM  ....  Subscribe
* According to 2020 study.

Production Costs

CommodityUnitsAverage
Cash costs Copper USD  ....  Subscribe
Assumed price Copper USD  ....  Subscribe
Assumed price Silver USD  ....  Subscribe
Assumed price Gold USD  ....  Subscribe
* According to 2020 study / presentation.
** Net of By-Product.

Operating Costs

Currency2020
OP mining costs ($/t mined) CAD  ....  Subscribe
OP mining costs ($/t milled) CAD  ....  Subscribe
Processing costs ($/t milled) CAD  ....  Subscribe
G&A ($/t milled) CAD  ....  Subscribe
Total operating costs ($/t milled) CAD  ....  Subscribe
* According to 2020 study.

Project Costs

MetricsUnitsLOM Total
Pre-Production capital costs $M CAD  ......  Subscribe
Equipment leasing costs $M CAD  ......  Subscribe
Sustaining CapEx $M CAD  ......  Subscribe
Total CapEx $M CAD  ......  Subscribe
Mining Taxes $M CAD  ......  Subscribe
Income Taxes $M CAD  ......  Subscribe
Total Taxes $M CAD  ......  Subscribe
Net Operating Income (LOM) $M CAD  ......  Subscribe
Pre-tax Cash Flow (LOM) $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

Required Heavy Mobile Equipment

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Personnel

Mine Management

Job TitleNameProfileRef. Date
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Apr 1, 2024
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Total WorkforceYear
...... Subscription required 2020

Aerial view:

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