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Finland

Pyhasalmi Mine

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Overview

Mine TypeTailings
StatusActive
Commodities
  • Copper
  • Zinc
  • Gold
  • Silver
  • Pyrite
Mining Method
  • Truck & Shovel / Loader
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SnapshotPyhäsalmi is a previously producing copper and zinc, and currently producing pyrite, underground mine located in central Finland. Pyhäsalmi is one of the oldest and deepest underground mines in Europe. Underground production of copper and zinc ended in August 2022, and the last copper and zinc tonnes were shipped in the fourth quarter of 2022.

Decommissioning of Pyhäsalmi commenced in 2022, and following the closure of the mine, the main activity is the rehabilitation of the surface area. This includes covering and re-vegetating the tailings impoundments.

Starting in 2023, pyrite-rich material is being excavated and transported from a storage pond located about a kilometer away to the concentrator for enrichment.

Pyhäsalmi Mine Oy has signed a five-year agreement with Yara Suomi Oy to produce and deliver pyrite up to year 2025.

Owners

SourceSource
CompanyInterestOwnership
First Quantum Minerals Ltd. 100 % Indirect
Pyhasalmi Mine Oy (operator) 100 % Direct
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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Deposit type

  • VMS
  • Tailings

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 for pyrite rich tailings from which the pyrite has not been concentrated and the northern part receives tailings from which pyrite has been largely removed. Also ‘D’ pond (31 hectares) receives tailings from which pyrite has been largely removed. Parts of pond ‘B’ dam walls were raised in 2016 to increase the storage capacity. ‘D’ pond dam walls were raised in 2020. The ‘C’ pond (47 hectares) operates as a holding pond. The supernatant is conditioned prior to release to the environment. Tailings production in 2023 was 204,587 tonnes of which 136,224 tonnes was deposited in the TSF and 68,283 tonnes was used for underground backfill. In total, 20.8 million tonnes of tailings had been deposited in the TSF at the end of 2022. The ponds meet all current Finnish regulations for design, construction and operation. The TSF is subject to regular external audits.

Reserves

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Mining Methods

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Comminution

Crushers and Mills

Milling equipment has not been reported.

Processing

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Production

CommodityProductUnits20222021202020192018201720162015
Copper Metal in concentrate t  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe8,00311,90413,50114,79512,046
Pyrite Concentrate kt  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe554646692490840

Operational metrics

Metrics202320222021202020192018201720162015
Tonnes milled  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe1,066 kt1,248 kt1,260 kt1,380 kt1,379 kt
Ore tonnes mined  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe1,036 kt1,237 kt1,315 kt1,430 kt1,384 kt

Production Costs

CommodityUnits202220212020201920182017
All-in sustaining costs (AISC) Copper USD  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe 0.55 / lb **   -0.46 / lb **   -0.26 / lb **  
C1 cash costs Copper USD  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe 0.51 / lb **   -0.46 / lb **   -0.26 / lb **  
C3 fully allocated costs Copper USD  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe 1.77 / lb **   1.7 / lb **   2.06 / lb **  
** Net of By-Product.

Financials

Units2023202220212020201920182017
Capital expenditures M USD 0   0   0  
Revenue M USD  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe 90   144   143  
Gross profit M USD  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe 24   40   24  
Operating Income M USD  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe 26   47   14  
EBITDA M USD  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe  ....  Subscribe 45   94   89  

Heavy Mobile Equipment

Fleet data has not been reported.

Personnel

Mine Management

Job TitleNameProfileRef. Date
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Jun 14, 2024
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Jun 14, 2024
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Jun 14, 2024
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Jun 14, 2024

Total WorkforceYear
...... Subscription required 2017
...... Subscription required 2016
...... Subscription required 2015

Aerial view:

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