Overview
| Stage | Production |
| Mine Type | Underground |
| Commodities |
|
| Mining Method |
- Longhole stoping
- Room-and-pillar
|
| Processing |
- Filter press plant
- Dewatering
- Flotation
- Dense media separation
|
| Mine Life | 20 years (as of Jan 1, 2021) |
Middle Tennessee is comprised of two underground zinc mines; Gordonsville and Cumberland, and a processing plant located at the Gordonsville mine site.
In July 2019, Nyrstar’s operating business became majority owned by Trafigura. Production numbers have not been publicly available since then. |
Source:
On 31 July 2019, Trafigura Group Pte Ltd. (“Trafigura”), a market leader in the global commodities industry, become the majority owner of the operating business of Nyrstar, a global multi-metals business.
Summary:
Middle Tennessee Mines is comprised of three operating mines: Gordonsville, Elmwood, and Cumberland and one project, Stonewall, which are located approximately 80 kilometres east of Nashville, Tennessee. Zinc mineralisation occurs in Mississippi Valley Type (‘MVT’) deposits as open-space fillings of breccias and fractures within limestones and dolomites. In MTM, the zinc mineralisation contains recoverable amounts of germanium and gallium.
Mining Methods
- Longhole stoping
- Room-and-pillar
Summary:
The main mining method: Room-and-pillar.
MTN has successfully implemented longhole stoping as an additional mining method in three operations.
Processing
- Filter press plant
- Dewatering
- Flotation
- Dense media separation
Flow Sheet:
Summary:
The Middle Tennessee zinc mine complex has a history of close association with Nyrstar’s Clarksville smelter, which was originally constructed to treat zinc concentrate from the mines. Ore mined at the three mines is processed into zinc concentrate at the Gordonsville zinc mine complex.
Along with zinc concentrate, Middle Tennessee delivers recoverable amounts of germanium and gallium as by-products to the Clarksville smelter.
The main operations associated with the process plant are:
Primary Crushing
Secondary Crushing
Heavy Media Separator
Rod/Ball Mill
Flotation
Thickener/Filter
Tailings.
Recoveries & Grades:
| Commodity | Parameter | 2018 | 2017 | 2015 | 2014 |
|
Zinc
|
Recovery Rate, %
| 94.3 | 92.8 | 98.1 | 95.5 |
|
Zinc
|
Head Grade, %
| 2.97 | 3.11 | 3.25 | 3.19 |
Production:
| Commodity | Product | Units | 2018 | 2017 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 |
|
Zinc
|
Metal in concentrate
|
kt
| 39 | 22 | 47 | 47 | 50 |
|
Zinc
|
Concentrate
|
kt
| 60 | 34 | 74 | 74 | 79 |
- Subscription is required.
Operational Metrics:
| Metrics | 2018 | 2017 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 |
|
Tonnes milled
| 1,389 kt of ore | 769 kt of ore | 1,482 kt of ore | 1,555 kt of ore | 1,648 kt of ore |
Reserves at December 31, 2018:
A cut-off grade of 2.0% Zn has been applied in the estimation of Mineral Resources for all mines
| Category | Tonnage | Commodity | Grade |
|
Proven
|
0.16 Mt
|
Zinc
|
4.5 %
|
|
Probable
|
2.19 Mt
|
Zinc
|
3.3 %
|
|
Proven & Probable
|
2.35 Mt
|
Zinc
|
3.4 %
|
|
Measured
|
0.18 Mt
|
Zinc
|
4.7 %
|
|
Indicated
|
3.67 Mt
|
Zinc
|
3.4 %
|
|
Measured & Indicated
|
3.86 Mt
|
Zinc
|
3.5 %
|
|
Inferred
|
16.01 Mt
|
Zinc
|
3.5 %
|
Operating Costs:
| | Units | 2018 | 2017 |
|
Direct operating costs ($/t milled)
|
USD
| 65 | 60 |
Corporate Filings & Presentations:
- Subscription is required.
Aerial view:
- Subscription is required.