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United States
Red Dog Mine

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 Location:
56 km N from Noatak, Alaska, United States

  Address:
2525 C St Suite 310
Anchorage
Alaska, United States
99503
Phone907-754-3800
Fax907-754-3888
EmailEmail
WebsiteWeb
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  • Overview
  • Owners
  • Geology
  • Mining
  • Processing
  • Production
  • Reserves
  • Financials
  • Fleet
  • Personnel
  • Filings & News

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Overview

StageProduction
Mine TypeOpen Pit
Commodities
  • Zinc
  • Lead
  • Silver
Mining Method
  • Truck & Shovel / Loader
On-Site Camp 363 people
Production Start1989
Mine Life2031
Red Dog Operations is one of the world's largest zinc mines.


Owners

Source: p. 76
CompanyInterestOwnership
Teck Resources Ltd. 100 % Indirect
Teck Alaska Incorporated (operator) 100 % Direct
Teck’s subsidiary, Teck Alaska Incorporated (TAK) operates the Red Dog Mine under the terms of a Mining Lease and Development and Operating Agreement with NANA.

Contractors



Deposit Type

  • Sediment-hosted
  • Vein / narrow vein
  • Breccia pipe / Stockwork

Source: Source p.17-18

Summary:

The Red Dog deposits are considered examples of clastic-dominated sediment hosted lead–zinc deposits.

The Red Dog mine area deposits consist of four stacked and complexly-deformed mineralized bodies that are contained in the Red Dog thrust plate. They have been structurally detached from their original footwalls and are imbricated in separate thrust sheets, positioned from highest to lowest and south to north: Qanaiyaq, Main, Aqqaluk and Paalaaq. Anarraaq is located about 10 km northwest of the Red Dog Mine at depths of 600–700 m, and situated within a shallowly southwesterly-dipping thrust panel of Red Dog stratigraphy. The Aktigiruq deposit is situated directly to the north of the Anarraaq deposit and roughly 12 km to the northwest of the Red Dog Mine. The Su deposit is located 22 km northwest of the Red Dog Mine.

The Red Dog deposits have similar host rock lithologies, mineral assemblages, and degrees of silicification, but differ in thicknesses, proportions of mineralization types and styles, and average grades. From base to top, the mine deposits are generally characterized by sulphide veins and breccias, massive sulphide, silica rock or silicified barite, sulphide-bearing barite and sulphide-poor barite. Brief deposit descriptions follow for those deposits where Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves have been estimated:

• Aqqaluk: lies directly to the north of the Main deposit, demarcation of the deposit is arbitrary and defined as any mineralization that is potentially mineable by open pit methods, which lies north of the roughly east–west line made by Shelly Creek and Red Dog Creek; dimensions of 700 m east–west, 600 m north–south and up to 150 m thick;

• Paalaaq: arcuate-shaped mineralized zone lying to the north of the Aqqaluk deposit; dimensions of 1,200 m long in a north–south direction, is 100 m to 200 m wide from east to west and up to 60 m thick;

• Qanaiyaq: 600 m to the south of the Main deposit; contained within a 600 m x 850 m klippe. Has elevated zinc and lead grades compared to the other mine-area deposits;

• Anarraaq: elongate lens-shaped massive sulphide body; dimensions of 1,000 m long, 500 m wide and up to 80 m thick.

Most of the Aqqaluk and Qanaiyaq mineralization is massive and unbedded, consisting of abundant sulphide grains and aggregates disseminated in a dense silica matrix. There is an apparent geochemical zoning, with Qanaiyaq and the Main deposit having higher average lead and zinc grades than Aqqaluk and Paalaaq. Vertical geochemical zoning, based on Zn:Fe and Zn:Pb ratios, is also evident. Mineralization at Anarraaq and Aktigiruq ranges from laminated or banded to brecciated. Sulphide mineralization consists of semi-massive to massive sphalerite, pyrite, marcasite and galena. Textures include massive, fragmental and veined types. Sedimentary layering within the sulphide zones is rare.


Mining Methods

  • Truck & Shovel / Loader

Source: p.24, 113, 115, 119

Summary:

The Red Dog mine currently operates two open pits at Aqqaluk and Qanaiyaq using conventional open pit drill and blast and truck and loader technology.

The larger of the two, the Aqqaluk pit, is approximately 945 m (3,100 ft) along its widest axis, east–west, and an average of 701 m (2,300 ft) in the perpendicular, north–south. The smaller of the two, the Qanaiyaq pit, is located 1.4 km (4,700 ft) south of the Aqqaluk pit and is approximately 732 m (2,400 ft) along its widest axis, northwest–southeast, and an average of 457 m (1,500 ft) in the perpendicular, northeast–southwest.

Both pits are mined on single 7.6 m (25 ft) benches and are accessed via two-lane haul roads. The haul roads are designed with a running width of 22.9 m (75 ft) and include 3.7 m (12 ft) safety berms and 1.8 m (6 ft) ditches; the total design width is 28.3 m (93 ft). Long-term haul roads are designed to a maximum grade of 10%, and short-term haul roads are designed to a maximum grade of 12%.

The Aqqaluk pit is generally dry, but seeps occur in fracture zones. Pumping rates from the Aqqaluk pit vary from up to 75.7 l/s (1,200 gpm) in spring and summer, down to less than 6.3 l/s (100 gpm) in winter. The Qanaiyaq pit is generally dry. Wet conditions can become problematic in both pits during spring freshet after winters with deep snow pack if temperatures increase too quickly. This leads to rapid snow melt causing water to report to the lowest bench of the pits at a rate greater than the peak pumping capacity. These extreme freshets are mitigated by storing the excess water on the lowest bench and adjusting the mining plan to excavate higher benches for the few days required for the pumping system to catch up and remove the water.

Three of the four phases in the Aqqaluk pit remain to be mined and mining of the first of the two phases in the Qanaiyaq pit started in 2016. The Qanaiyaq pit is planned to operate until 2027 and the Aqqaluk pit until 2031. The final year will also treat the low-grade ore stockpile. The waste to mill feed strip ratio over the life of the Aqqaluk pit is 0.87:1. The waste to mill feed strip ratio over the life of the Qanaiyaq pit is 2.18:1. Waste rock from the Aqqaluk and Qanaiyaq pits will be used to completely backfill the mined-out Main and Qanaiyaq pits.


Crushing and Grinding
Source: Subscription required


Processing

  • Jameson Cell Flotation
  • Dewatering
  • Filter press

Flow Sheet: Source p.121-123
Source: Source

Summary:

The Red Dog flow sheet uses three stages of grinding and froth flotation technology to recover sphalerite and galena to the zinc and lead concentrates respectively. Following crushing and grinding, slurry reports to a pre-flotation circuit to remove elemental sulphur and naturally occurring organic material. The pre-flotation section consists of both a rougher and a cleaner stage. The rougher stage consists of mechanical cells while the cleaner circuit is a Jameson cell. The Jameson cell is used to minimize the loss via entrainment of both fine lead and zinc particles to the pre flotation concentrate using dilution. The lead flotation circuit consists of a rougher circuit in closed circuit with cleaner columns. Xanthate is used as sulphide collector and cyanide is used as the main pyrite depressant. Tower mills are used for regrind to provide additional mineral liberation. Typical lead recovery to the lead concentrate varies between 55-65% depending on ore type. The final lead concentrate is thickened and filtered. The lead flotation tailings reports to the zinc circuit. Copper sulfate is used to activate sphalerite while xanthate is used as the sulphide collector. The zinc flotation circuit consists of a rougher circuit followed by three stages of cleaning and a retreat circuit. The zinc rougher concentrate is reground by one M5000 IsaMill for additional liberation. The tailings from the zinc cleaner circuit is further reground in another M5000 IsaMill before feeding a three stage zinc retreat circuit. The zinc retreat final concentrate is combined with the zinc cleaner concentrate to make up the final zinc concentrate. The zinc concentrate is then thickened and filtered.

Concentrate is stored on site then hauled by truck to the port site facility on the Chukchi Sea. The concentrates are stored at the port and then shipped to the contracted smelting facilities during the shipping season between early July and early October.

Construction progressed on the US$135 million mill upgrade project, called VIP2, with planned startup on schedule for the first quarter of 2020. The project started construction in late 2017, and is expected to increase average mill throughput by about 15% over the remaining mine life, helping to offset lower grades and harder ore.

The VIP2 project envisages that the main modifications to the grinding circuit will be to allow the SAG1 and SAG2 mills to draw the same amount of power as the SAG3 mill, and the addition of one M15000 IsaMill as a quaternary mill. The flotation circuit will be augmented with six OK-16 lead scavenger cells and one Jameson cell as a zinc 1st rougher concentrate cleaner.

Construction on the mill upgrade project, called VIP2, was completed in 2020.

Recoveries & Grades:

CommodityParameter2021202020192018201720162015
Zinc Recovery Rate, % 81.482.384.283.982.182.884.2
Zinc Head Grade, % 14.314.215.415.715.517.116.7
Lead Recovery Rate, % 5357.855.550.252.35660.7
Lead Head Grade, % 4.244.44.454.94.8

Production:

CommodityUnits2022202120202019201820172016
Zinc kt 540-570 ^503491552583542583
Lead kt 80-90 ^979810398111122
All production numbers are expressed as metal in concentrate. ^ Guidance / Forecast.

Operational Metrics:

Metrics202120202019201820172016
Total tonnes mined 10,894 kt11,254 kt10,856 kt11,469 kt11,726 kt13,704 kt
Tonnes milled 4,330 kt4,196 kt4,256 kt4,429 kt4,270 kt4,250 kt

Reserves at December 31, 2021:

CategoryTonnage CommodityGradeRecoverable Metal
Probable 42,900 kt Zinc 12.6 % 4,510 kt
Probable 42,900 kt Lead 3.6 % 800 kt
Probable 42,900 kt Silver 67 g/t 53,130 koz
Indicated 9,100 kt Zinc 7.5 %
Indicated 9,100 kt Lead 5 %
Indicated 9,100 kt Silver 86.3 g/t
Inferred 28,600 kt Zinc 13.7 %
Inferred 28,600 kt Lead 4.23 %
Inferred 28,600 kt Silver 77.68 g/t

Financials:

Units2022202120202019201820172016
Capital expenditures (planned) M USD 143  
Sustaining costs M 17  CAD 65  CAD 35  CAD
Revenue M 1,567  CAD1,394  CAD1,594  CAD 1,696  CAD 1,752  CAD 1,444  CAD
Gross profit M 678  CAD513  CAD696  CAD 864  CAD 874  CAD 668  CAD


Pipelines
TypeMaterialDiameterLengthDescription


Heavy Mobile Equipment:
HME TypeModelQuantityRef. Date
Dozer (crawler) Caterpillar D9 / D10 4 Oct 31, 2017
Drill Atlas Copco DML 3 Oct 31, 2017
Excavator Caterpillar 385 1 Dec 31, 2016
Excavator Caterpillar 345 2 Dec 31, 2016
Excavator Caterpillar 325 1 Dec 31, 2016
Grader Caterpillar 16 3 Dec 31, 2016
Grader Caterpillar 14 1 Dec 31, 2016
Loader Caterpillar 992/993 5 Oct 31, 2017
Truck (haul) Caterpillar 777 12 Oct 31, 2017

Mine Management:

Job TitleNamePhoneProfileRef. Date
Engineering Manager Martin Petrucha LinkedIn Apr 29, 2022
General Manager Leslie Yesnik (306) 633-2072 LinkedIn Apr 29, 2022
Health & Safety Manager Brennon McNabb LinkedIn Apr 29, 2022
Health & Safety Superintendent Scott Leighton LinkedIn Apr 29, 2022
Sr. Mine Engineer Mark Helms LinkedIn Apr 29, 2022
Sr. Project Engineer Stefanie M. Ayyaiyak Armstrong LinkedIn Apr 29, 2022

Staff:

EmployeesYear
772 2021
456 2020

Corporate Filings & Presentations:

DocumentYear
Quarterly Report 2022
Annual Information Form 2021
Sustainability Report 2021
Annual Information Form 2020
Annual Report 2020
Press Release 2020
Quarterly Report 2020
Sustainability Report 2020
Sustainability Report 2020
Annual Information Form 2019
Annual Information Form 2018
Annual Report 2018
Mine Operations Plan 2018
Quarterly Report 2018
Annual Information Form 2017
Annual Report 2017
Press Release 2017
Quarterly Report 2017
Annual Information Form 2016
Press Release 2016
Technical Report 2016
Annual Report 2015
Press Release 2015

Aerial view:

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