Mineralization at Copper Mountain is classified as an alkalic porphyry deposit. Although there are several areas that have been mined separately over time, both alteration and lower-grade mineralization occurs between these areas, and all mineralization is thought to be part of a large, single system.

As a generalization, mineralization at Copper Mountain consists of structurally controlled, multidirectional veins and vein stockworks, with peripheral disseminations. Mineralization had been subdivided into four types, as follows: 1) disseminated and stockwork chalcopyrite, bornite, chalcocite, and pyrite in altered Nicola and LHIC rocks; 2) hematite-magnetite-chalcopyrite replacements and/or veins; 3) bornite-chalcopyrite associated with pegmatite-like veins (coarse masses of orthoclase, calcite, and biotite); and 4) chalcopyrite-bearing magnetite breccias. Each mineralization type can be found in all pit areas, but each pit is unique with respect to the relative quantities and character of mineralization type.

Both mineralization and alteration demonstrate a zonation through the camp, though not in a manner typically associated with calc-alkaline porphyry deposits. Three main types of alteration have been defined—hornfels, sodic, and potassic; each has its own spatial and temporal distribution.

The Copper Mountain alkalic porphyry copper-gold camp occurs in the eastern volcanic belt of the Nicola Group, where the volcanic strata are intruded by a suite of Early Jurassic alkalic dykes, sills, irregular plugs, and zoned plutons of the Copper Mountain suite (Cromwell, 2015; Milhalynuk, 2010; Woodsworth et al., 1992). Other than local contact effects from intrusion and alteration associated with mineralization, the stratified rocks are relatively fresh, having undergone zeolite to lowermost greenschist facies metamorphism and minimal deformation.

As with alteration, mineralization is variable throughout the mine area in both form and mineralogy. There is a transition of chalcopyrite-pyrite-magnetite assemblages in the north to chalcopyrite-bornitechalcocite assemblages in the south.

The Eastern Belt of the Nicola Group includes the oldest rocks in the Copper Mountain camp. Within the mine area, a clear stratigraphic succession has not been defined due to extensive faulting and alteration, and probable rapid facies changes within the volcanic rocks. Dark-green to black augite-porphyry flows, breccias, and possible tuffaceous material composes most of the rock types exposed in the mine area.

The Copper Mountain Mineral deposits are classified as alkalic porphyry copper-gold deposits. The term recognizes the alkaline nature of the intrusive rocks associated with mineralization, where silica content is low relative to the alkali metals, sodium, and potassium. The intrusive rocks almost always have porphyritic textures, and the deposits are bulk minable. However, there are many features of alkalic porphyry deposits that set them apart from the better-known calc-alkaline porphyry coppermolybdenum deposits.

Mining at the Copper Mountain Mine is by conventional open pit methods, using a 15-m bench height. The major components of this mining method are blasthole drilling, blasting, loading, and hauling. Pit walls are designed to geotechnical specifications and vary in slope angle depending upon lithology, alteration, and local ground conditions, with bench face angles of 70 degrees to 73 degrees, and berms of 9 m to 14 m, resulting in inter-ramp pit wall angles that range from 37 degrees to 52 degrees. Ramps are generally 33.5 m wide.

The mining schedule is based on operating 24 h/d, 365 d/a. The mine operations and mine maintenance departments’ shift schedules are planned to continue to be two 12-hr shifts per day, using four alternating crews.

Mining is done on a 24 h/d, 7 d/week basis, and the mining rate varies from 150 kt/d to 200 kt/d, depending on haulage distances, ore:waste ratios, equipment availabilities, and other factors. The current long-term mine plan was generated from pit design phases based on the optimized pit shells and Mineral Reserve block models from the Copper Mountain Mine Main pit, North Pit (Alabama), and the Ingerbelle pit. The mine plan uses the designed pit shells to generate a schedule that maximizes the use of the mining fleet and provides a balance between ore and waste rock movement with a steady supply of mill feed material.

It should be noted that the ultimate pit, the LOM mine production schedule generated by CMMC for the years 2020 to 2041, and the LOM processing schedule generated by CMMC use only Proven and Probable Mineral Reserves (Measured and Indicated Resources converted).

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Rougher Flotation
The additional tonnage will require additional rougher flotation capacity. The existing 10x 160 m3 rougher flotation cells will treat half of the total mill throughput, while a new circuit comprising 5x 300 m3 flotation cells will treat the remaining half. These will be designated as rougher flotation Lines 1 and 2, respectively.

Rougher Flotation Line 2 will receive feed from the two existing ball mills, while Rougher Flotation Line 1 will receive feed from the two expansion ball mills. The new cells will be constructed inside the north flotation annex, a new building located at the northeast corner of the existing mill building.

The north flotation annex will be laid out so that rougher concentrate from both Rougher Flotation Lines 1 and 2 will launder by gravity to the regrind cyclone feed pump box. Tailings from Rougher Flotation Line 1 and Line 2 will collect at a new tails collection tank located at the existing Drop Tank 1 on the exis ........