149 0 Kommentare Imperial Provides Update on Mount Polley 2023 Production

VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Jan. 17, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Imperial Metals Corporation (“Imperial”) (TSX:III) reports that 2023 metal production from Mount Polley was 30.145 million pounds of copper and 41,834 ounces of gold. The mine achieved the low end of its target of 30–33 million pounds for copper production and exceeded the high end of its target of 35-40 thousand ounces for gold production.

Red Chris production will be released when the reconciled information is received from Newmont Corporation (“Newmont”).

Mount Polley Mine

During the fourth quarter 1,567,491 tonnes of ore were treated (up 44.6% compared to Q4 2022), this increase is partially due to improved plant availability of 88.3% (up 22% from Q4 2022). During the quarter 8.348 million pounds copper (up 120.5% from Q4 2022) and 10,349 ounces gold (up 48.0% from Q4 2022) were produced.

With the damaged third ball mill returned to service in October, the November mill throughput averaged 19,609 tonnes per day, and from December 20^th to 30^th mill throughput averaged 20,076 tonnes per day. With all the mills operational the plant is nearing historic throughput highs and achieving better availability while maintaining strong copper and gold recoveries.

Approximately 2/3 of the tailings stored in the Springer Pit had been removed by year end and the remaining tailings are expected to be removed by the end of the first quarter 2024.

Mount Polley Mine Production	Three Months Ended December 31		Year Ended December 31
	2023	2022	2023	2022*
Ore milled - tonnes	1,567,491	1,084,016	5,948,239	2,068,830
Ore milled per calendar day - tonnes	17,038	11,783	16,297	11,244
Grade % - copper	0.302	0.230	0.287	0.214
Grade g/t - gold	0.286	0.325	0.311	0.306
Recovery % - copper	79.9	68.9	80.0	63.5
Recovery % - gold	71.8	61.8	70.4	59.4
Copper – 000’s pounds	8,348	3,786	30,145	6,206
Gold – ounces	10,349	6,995	41,834	12,078