Overview
| Status | Inactive / Suspended |
| Mine Type | Open Pit |
| Commodities |
|
| Mining Method |
|
| Mine Life | 19 years (as of Jan 1, 2017) |
In June 2018, the Government of Canada, through the Governor-in Council (Cabinet) issued a negative decision regarding the Ajax project as the project is likely to cause significant adverse environmental effects. The decisions were made through the environmental impact assessment process, and reflect the substantial engagement of provincial and federal governmental agencies, First Nations and a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including thousands of representatives of local communities.
As a result of the decision not to grant an EA Certificate, in 2021 work continued which was mainly related to monitoring and securing of the project terrain in accordance with law in force. |
Source:
p. 15
KGHM INTERNATIONAL LTD. 80%; Abacus Mining and Exploration Inc. 20%
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Deposit Type
- Porphyry
- Vein / narrow vein
Summary:
Ajax is an alkalic copper-gold porphyry deposit hosted within the Iron Mask Batholith. Mineralization extends to depths exceeding 700 m, widths exceeding 1,000 m, and has a strike length that exceeds 2,000 m. The mineralization in the project area is associated with structural corridors of highly fractured and albite-altered sections of Sugarloaf Diorite (SLD) and Sugarloaf Volcanic Hybrid (SVHYB) units.
The Iron Mask Batholith is host to more than 20 known mineral deposits and occurrences. Copper-gold mineralization within the Iron Mask Batholith is associated with the younger intrusive phases of CHMZ and SLD. Mineralization is generally localized along major fault zones, at the contacts with the older PHD and IMH units and associated with albite and potassium feldspar alteration.
The mineralization in the project area is associated with structural corridors of highly fractured sections of SLD and SVHYB phases of the Iron Mask Batholith. Chalcopyrite is the dominant copper mineral and occurs as veins, veinlets, fracture fillings, disseminations and isolated blebs in the host rock. Concentrations of chalcopyrite rarely exceed 5%. Accessory sulphide minerals include pyrite and molybdenite.
Copper mineralization in the Ajax area consists predominantly of chalcopyrite and is hosted primarily in the SLD and SVHYB units. This mineralization appears to have greater concentration within the Sugarloaf units near the contact with IMH. Some mineraliz ........
Summary:
The proposed mine plan envisages a conventional open pit operation producing 65,000 t/d of ore to the processing facility. The pit has been designed to be developed in seven phases. The ultimate pit will be approximately 2.7 km in an east-west direction and approximately 1.3 km in a north-south direction.
Two stockpiles will be utilized to maximize the discounted cash flow of the project. A mid-grade stockpile and a low-grade stockpile will be constructed to store lower grade ore and will be reclaimed and processed later in the mine life.
A conventional truck and shovel fleet will be used to mine 15 m benches. Drilling and blasting will be required. Horizontal drains are proposed as the primary means to depressurize the pit slope. In-pit water will be removed by way of ditches, pipes, sumps, pumps, and booster pumps.
Four mine rock storage facilities (MRSFs) for waste rock are planned for the Ajax Site. The east mine rock storage facility (EMRSF) will be constructed east of the ultimate pit. Similarly the south mine rock storage facility (SMRSF), will be located south of the ultimate pit. The tailings embankment will be constructed in two parts using run-of-mine rock, the north and east sections. A north extension and buttress for the main tailings embankment called the west mine rock storage facility (WMRSF) will be constructed to increase storage capacity, reduce haul costs, and to increase the stability of the TSF Embankment. A backfill s ........
Source:
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Flow Sheet:
Summary:
- subscription is required.
Projected Production:
| Commodity | Product | Units | Avg. Annual | LOM |
|
Copper
|
Payable metal
|
M lbs
| 117 | 2,215 |
|
Gold
|
Payable metal
|
koz
| ...... | ...... |
|
Copper
|
Metal in concentrate
|
M lbs
| | 2,313 |
|
Gold
|
Metal in concentrate
|
koz
| | ...... |
Operational Metrics:
| Metrics | |
|
Stripping / waste ratio
| 2.65 * |
|
Daily milling capacity
| 65 kt * |
|
Daily ore mining rate
| 65,000 t * |
|
Waste tonnes, LOM
| 1,130,200 kt * |
|
Ore tonnes mined, LOM
| 426,300 kt * |
|
Tonnes milled, LOM
| 426,293 kt * |
|
Annual milling capacity
| 23,725 kt * |
|
Annual production capacity
| 250 kt of copper concentrate * |
* According to 2016 study.
Reserves at February 19, 2016:
Mineral resources and Mineral Reserve are estimated at an NSR cut-off of $7.10.
| Category | Tonnage | Commodity | Grade | Contained Metal |
|
Proven
|
130 Mt
|
Copper
|
0.3 %
|
875 M lbs
|
|
Proven
|
130 Mt
|
Gold
|
0.19 g/t
|
791 koz
|
|
Proven
|
130 Mt
|
Silver
|
0.4 g/t
|
1,677 koz
|
|
Probable
|
296 Mt
|
Copper
|
0.28 %
|
1,818 M lbs
|
|
Probable
|
296 Mt
|
Gold
|
0.19 g/t
|
1,813 koz
|
|
Probable
|
296 Mt
|
Silver
|
0.38 g/t
|
3,615 koz
|
|
Proven & Probable
|
426 Mt
|
Copper
|
0.29 %
|
2,693 M lbs
|
|
Proven & Probable
|
426 Mt
|
Gold
|
0.19 g/t
|
2,605 koz
|
|
Proven & Probable
|
426 Mt
|
Silver
|
0.39 g/t
|
5,292 koz
|
|
Measured
|
148 Mt
|
Copper
|
0.28 %
|
|
|
Measured
|
148 Mt
|
Gold
|
0.18 g/t
|
|
|
Measured
|
148 Mt
|
Silver
|
0.37 g/t
|
|
|
Indicated
|
420 Mt
|
Copper
|
0.25 %
|
|
|
Indicated
|
420 Mt
|
Gold
|
0.18 g/t
|
|
|
Indicated
|
420 Mt
|
Silver
|
0.35 g/t
|
|
|
Measured & Indicated
|
568 Mt
|
Copper
|
0.26 %
|
|
|
Measured & Indicated
|
568 Mt
|
Gold
|
0.18 g/t
|
|
|
Measured & Indicated
|
568 Mt
|
Silver
|
0.35 g/t
|
|
|
Inferred
|
29 Mt
|
Copper
|
0.13 %
|
|
|
Inferred
|
29 Mt
|
Gold
|
0.09 g/t
|
|
|
Inferred
|
29 Mt
|
Silver
|
0.17 g/t
|
|
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