Overview
| Stage | Production |
| Mine Type | Tailings |
| Commodities |
- Copper
- Zinc
- Gold
- Silver
- Pyrite
|
| Mining Method |
|
| Production Start | ...  |
| Mine Life | 4 years (as of Jan 1, 2022) |
Underground production of copper and zinc at Phyasalmi mine ended in August 2022, and the last copper and zinc tonnes were shipped in the fourth quarter of 2022.
Approximately 2 million tonnes of pyrite rich material is estimated to be reclaimed from B pond in the coming years for third party sales. |
Source:
p. 8, 71
Pyhasalmi Mine Oy is an indirectly wholly-owned subsidiary of the First Quantum Minerals Ltd. Pyhasalmi Mine Oy’s main asset is the Pyhäsalmi copper and zinc mine.
Contractors
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Summary:
The Pyhäsalmi deposit is a copper-zinc volcanogenic massive sulphide deposit of Proterozoic age. The mineralization is hosted by altered felsic and mafic volcanic rocks. The enveloping alteration zone is at least four kilometres long and one kilometre wide at its widest point. Alteration of the felsic volcanic rocks includes sericite and cordierite dominated mineralogy. Cordierite, anthophyllite and garnet dominate in the altered mafic volcanic rocks. The metamorphic grade is upper amphibolite facies.
The upper part of the Pyhäsalmi deposit was mined between 1962 and 2001 and is now depleted. Deep drilling in 1996 by Outokumpu Oy (the previous owner) led to the discovery of an extension to the deposit below the +1050 meter level. The newer deep deposit is located between the +1050 meter level (from surface) and the +1416 meter level. The inner part of the lens consists of massive pyrite with low copper and zinc values. This core is surrounded by massive chalcopyrite-pyrite and the outer rim consists of massive sphalerite-pyrite. The main sulphide minerals are pyrite (65%), chalcopyrite (3%), sphalerite (4%) and pyrrhotite (3%).
Tailings Storage Facilities
At Pyhäsalmi the TSF pond area is divided into four parts: A, B, C and D ponds. ‘A’ pond (42 hectares) was decommissioned in 2001-2002 and re-vegetation is progressing well. In 2022 tailings were pumped into the B or D pond. The ‘B’ pond (31 hectares) was divided into two parts in 2014: the southern part is a storage pond ........
Summary:
Underground mining at Phyasalmi ended in August 2022. The mining method applied was benching with delayed backfill in a primary-secondary or horizontally retreating sequence.
Starting in 2023, pyrite-rich material will be excavated and transported from a storage pond located about a kilometer away to the concentrator for enrichment. It is estimated that the operation will continue for about four years.
Approximately 2 million tonnes of pyrite rich material is estimated to be reclaimed from B pond in the coming years for third party sales. The pond is drained and the material is piled up to dry with an excavator. The material is transported by trucks to the concentrator for enrichment.
Source:
Summary:
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Reserves at December 31, 2021:
The mineral reserve estimate is based on a copper price of $3.75/lb and $1.10/lb for zinc.
Underground copper and zinc resources were depleted in 2022.
| Category | Tonnage | Commodity | Grade |
|
Proven & Probable
|
0.2 Mt
|
Copper
|
0.48 %
|
|
Proven & Probable
|
0.2 Mt
|
Zinc
|
0.1 %
|
|
Proven & Probable
|
0.2 Mt
|
Gold
|
0.4 g/t
|
|
Proven & Probable
|
0.2 Mt
|
Silver
|
10 g/t
|
|
Proven & Probable
|
0.2 Mt
|
Sulphur
|
44.24 %
|
|
Measured & Indicated
|
3,564 Mt
|
Copper
|
0.48 %
|
|
Measured & Indicated
|
3,564 Mt
|
Zinc
|
0.3 %
|
|
Measured & Indicated
|
3,564 Mt
|
Gold
|
0.4 g/t
|
|
Measured & Indicated
|
3,564 Mt
|
Silver
|
10 g/t
|
|
Measured & Indicated
|
3,564 Mt
|
Sulphur
|
40.58 %
|
Source:
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