Le Cuivre

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Un prospect de cuivre prometteur au Chili : Marimaca. Mitsubishi investi 15 millions de US dollars.

Marimaca secures investment for Chilean copper project
The investment from Japan’s Mitsubishi will be used to fast-track the development of the Marimaca copper project.

June 22, 2023


Marimaca will move ahead with the definitive feasibility study for the copper project. Credit: Marimaca Copper.

Canadian exploration and development company Marimaca Copper has secured a strategic investment of C$20m ($15.1m) from Japanese company Mitsubishi via a non-brokered private placement.

Marimaca plans to use the proceeds from the investment to fast-track the development of its Marimaca copper project in Chile’s Antofagasta region, as well as for working capital and general corporate purposes.

A major investor in the Latin American copper industry, Mitsubishi will subscribe for an aggregate of 4,640,371 units comprising one common share and one common share purchase warrant, at a price of C$4.31 for each unit.

Upon completion of the investment, the Japanese company will hold 5% of issued and outstanding common shares in Marimaca on a non-diluted basis.

Marimaca Copper president and CEO Hayden Locke said: “We are pleased that Mitsubishi shares our view that the Marimaca Copper Project is a unique, very high-quality, development stage project. Its location affords it several advantages including an expectation that it will be among the lowest carbon-intensity copper producers in the industry.

“It is one of the very few new copper projects that have the potential to deliver near-term production of meaningful scale.

“Mitsubishi’s investment significantly de-risks our next phase of development and provides funding to accelerate progress toward the definitive feasibility study (DFS) and permitting while minimising dilution to our existing shareholders.”

Marimaca plans to go ahead with the DFS and permitting workstreams on the copper project.

https://www.mining-technology.com/news/ ... an-copper/

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Antofagasta soumet une demande de permis environnemental pour l' agrandissement de la mine de Zaldivar.1.2 milliards de dollars d'investissement aprés.

Antofagasta seeks copper mine extension with $1.2 billion investment

Reuters | June 20, 2023 |


The Zaldívar copper mine in Chile, a joint venture between Antofagasta and Barrick. (Image courtesy of Barrick Gold)

Chilean miner Antofagasta applied for an environmental permit to extend operations at its Zaldivar copper mine through 2051, the company announced on Tuesday.

Antofagasta said its extension plan includes a projected investment of $1.2 billion for the base metals project.

The miner is asking regulators to prolong the mine’s operations by 26 years. Afterwards, it would implement a mine closure plan, estimated to last until 2054, according to a company statement.

The mine’s current environmental impact study permit, or EIA, will expire in 2025.

The requested extension will not modify the firm’s previously approved production capacity, the company added.

https://www.mining.com/web/antofagasta- ... nvestment/

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First Quantum est ciblé par une OPA de la part de Barrick !

Zambie : Barrick veut renforcer son empreinte sur le cuivre avec le rachat de First Quantum

Agence Ecofin 16 juin 2023

Deuxième producteur mondial d’or, Barrick a aussi enregistré une production attribuable d’environ 200 000 tonnes de cuivre en 2022. Quant à First Quantum, ses mines de cuivre ont livré plus du triple l’année dernière, soit 776 000 tonnes, et la compagnie canadienne veut faire mieux en 2023.

Le géant minier Barrick Gold cible le producteur canadien de cuivre First Quantum, actif notamment en Zambie, en vue de renforcer son empreinte sur le métal rouge. C’est du moins ce qu’a révélé la semaine dernière Bloomberg, citant des sources proches du dossier.

L’offre de Barrick, dont les détails n’ont pas été dévoilés, a néanmoins été rejetée. Si le PDG de Barrick a plusieurs fois fait part de son intention d’investir davantage dans le cuivre, particulièrement dans la ceinture cuprifère qui s’étend en RDC et en Zambie, il faut noter qu’il s’agit de la première annonce d’importance liée à cette stratégie.

Elle survient alors que le deuxième producteur mondial d’or a pris du retard ces dernières années sur son rival Newmont, leader du secteur aurifère, et cherche donc un autre levier de croissance. La tentative de prise de contrôle lancée par la compagnie dirigée par le Sud-Africain Mark Bristow intervient aussi, et surtout, dans un contexte de demande accrue pour le cuivre, jugé essentiel à la réussite de la transition énergétique grâce à ses diverses utilisations (câblage électrique, panneaux solaires, véhicules électriques, etc.).

Si les négociations aboutissent, Barrick prendrait le contrôle des mines de cuivre Kansanshi et Sentinel qui viendraient grossir son portefeuille zambien composé actuellement de la seule mine Lumwana. La compagnie hériterait aussi de plusieurs mines de cuivre à travers le monde, dont celle de Cobre au Panama, qui a livré 350 000 tonnes l’année dernière et constitue environ 1,5 % de la production mondiale de cuivre. First Quantum a produit un total de 776 000 tonnes de cuivre sur tous ses actifs en 2022 et vise 770 000 à 840 000 tonnes cette année.

Pour rappel, d’autres géants miniers sont déjà à l’assaut du métal rouge, à l’instar du suisse Glencore qui a lancé plus tôt cette année une offre publique d’achat sur les actions du canadien Teck Resources, afin de prendre le contrôle des grandes mines de cuivre de la société en Amérique du Sud. BHP a aussi conclu le mois dernier une transaction de 6,6 milliards de dollars pour racheter Oz Minerals qui possède plusieurs projets et mines de cuivre en Australie et en Amérique du Sud.

https://www.agenceecofin.com/mines/1906 ... st-quantum

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Nouveau projet de mine de Cuivre et Or au Chili : Costa Fuego project. 1 milliard de dollars d'investissements nécéssaire.

Hot Chili’s Costa Fuego copper-gold project to require $1bn start-up capital
The Chilean project will have an initial mine life of 16 years with 1.41 million tonnes of copper and 718,000 ounces of gold produced for total revenue of around $13.5bn

By NS Energy Staff Writer 30 Jun 2023


Drilling at the Costa Fuego copper-gold project in Chile. (Credit: Hot Chili Limited)

Hot Chili said that the Costa Fuego copper-gold project in northern Chile will require a start-up capital of $1.05bn, based on the findings of a preliminary economic assessment (PEA).

According to the Australia-based mineral exploration company, the project will have a payback of 3.5 years.

Hot Chili stated that initial phases of open pit mining at the Costa Fuego copper-gold project will fully meet the funding requirement of the development of a bulk underground operation.

The project will have an initial mine life of 16 years with 1.41 million tonnes (Mt) of copper (Cu) and 718,000 ounces of gold (Au) produced for total revenue of around $13.5bn. The total free cash flow post-tax, after operating costs, capital costs, and royalties is expected to be $3.28bn.

As per the PEA, the base-case post-tax net present value (NPV) of the project at an 8% discount rate is $1.1bn while the internal rate of return (IRR) is estimated to be 21%.

Hot Chili intends to release the pre-feasibility study (PFS) of the Costa Fuego copper-gold project by H2 2024. The mineral exploration company said that 80% of workstreams for supporting a PFS are completed, with only minimal study costs left.

The Costa Fuego Copper Project brings together the Cortadera porphyry copper-gold deposit and the Productora copper-gold deposit, which are located 14 km apart in a prime location along the low-altitude coastal range of the Atacama Region.

Hot Chili said that it is currently studying a single, large pit scenario for the Cortadera deposit, which has the potential to significantly extend the mine life and increase the scale of the project. The study is set to take place in the second half of this year.

Hot Chili managing director Christian Easterday said: “The Costa Fuego PEA cements Hot Chili’s position as the largest copper developer listed on the ASX by both resource size and potential scale of copper production.

“Costa Fuego ranks highly amongst global peer projects and stands out as one of the world’s lowest capital intensity, major copper developments.

“The PEA indicates a strong investment case for advancing Costa Fuego to a PFS for what would be a low-cost, low-risk, long-life, large-scale copper project, which is extremely leveraged to both resource growth and copper price appreciation.”

Hot Chili also announced the execution of a binding $15m investment agreement with Osisko Gold Royalties for a 1% net smelter return (NSR) royalty on copper and a 3% NSR royalty on gold across the Costa Fuego copper-gold project.

https://www.nsenergybusiness.com/news/h ... p-capital/

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suite de ce post du 8 avril 2023 viewtopic.php?p=2366843#p2366843

RDC : la production trimestrielle de cuivre établit un nouveau record à Kamoa-Kakula

Agence Ecofin 6 juillet 2023

Depuis la production du premier concentré de cuivre en mai 2021, les performances opérationnelles de la mine de cuivre Kamoa-Kakula sont en constante progression. Au premier trimestre 2023, l’actif a livré plus de 93 000 tonnes de concentré.

En RDC, la production de cuivre du complexe Kamoa-Kakula s’est établie à 103 786 tonnes de concentré au deuxième trimestre 2023, en hausse de 11 % par rapport au trimestre précédent. C’est l’annonce faite le 5 juillet par son propriétaire canadien, Ivanhoe Mines, qui précise qu’il s’agit de la meilleure performance trimestrielle de la mine depuis son entrée en service en 2021.

Pour les six premiers mois de l’année, Kamoa-Kakula a livré 197 389 tonnes de concentré de cuivre et la mine reste en bonne voie pour produire 390 à 430 000 tonnes de cuivre en 2023. La mine est une coentreprise entre Ivanhoe Mines et le chinois Zijin Mining, avec une participation de 20 % du gouvernement congolais.

https://www.agenceecofin.com/cuivre/060 ... moa-kakula

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suite de ce post du 14 mai 2022 viewtopic.php?p=2343199#p2343199

Zambie : Metso obtient une commande de 22 millions $ d’équipements à la mine de cuivre Kansanshi

Agence Ecofin 4 juillet 2023

En 2022, la mine de cuivre Kansanshi a livré 146 282 tonnes de cuivre. Son propriétaire canadien First Quantum Minerals veut y porter la production annuelle à 250 000 tonnes jusqu’en 2044 et a lancé en 2022 un projet de 1,25 milliard de dollars pour y arriver.

En Zambie, le fournisseur de technologies et d’équipements miniers Metso a obtenu un contrat de 20 millions d’euros (21,80 millions $) à la mine de cuivre Kansanshi. C’est l’annonce faite le 4 juillet par la société finlandaise qui précise que cette commande s’inscrit dans le cadre du projet d’agrandissement S3 annoncé en mai 2022 à la mine par son propriétaire canadien First Quantum Minerals.

Grâce à un investissement de 1,25 milliard $, le projet S3 permettra notamment d’ajouter une usine de traitement d’une capacité de 25 millions de tonnes par an à Kansanshi, résultant en une production annuelle de 250 000 tonnes jusqu’en 2044. À titre de comparaison, Kansanshi a livré 146 282 tonnes l’année dernière.

https://www.agenceecofin.com/cuivre/040 ... -kansanshi

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suite de ce post du 23 mai 2020 viewtopic.php?p=2304115#p2304115

La Namibie autorise à nouveau l’exploration de cuivre à Haib, près de la frontière sud-africaine

Agence Ecofin 11 juillet 2023

Après un litige qui a duré 2 ans, Deep South a obtenu des autorités namibiennes la réouverture de la procédure de renouvellement de sa licence pour le cuivre Haib. Le projet pourrait lui rapporter en moyenne 234 millions $ par an selon une évaluation économique préliminaire de 2020.

En Namibie, Deep South Resources peut désormais reprendre le développement de son projet de cuivre Haib situé près de la frontière avec l’Afrique du Sud. Dans un communiqué publié lundi 10 juillet, la compagnie minière canadienne a en effet annoncé le renouvellement attendu de sa licence d’exploration par le ministère des Mines et de l’Énergie le 7 juillet dernier.

Valable pour une période de deux ans à compter de la date de renouvellement, cette licence vient mettre un terme à un bras de fer qui aura duré près de deux ans entre le ministère et Deep South. Après son refus de renouveler la licence en juin 2021, le ministère s’est finalement plié au verdict de la Haute Cour de Namibie qui a statué plus tôt cette année en faveur de la société canadienne et a annulé la décision administrative.

Notons qu’avant le litige, Deep South était en train d’achever un programme de forage de 10 000 mètres à Haib et d’entamer une estimation actualisée des ressources devant lui permettre de réaliser une étude de faisabilité du projet. « Avec la rareté des développements majeurs de cuivre à l’horizon, Haib promet d’être un important gisement non développé. Nous avons commencé à préparer le programme de travail et nous reprendrons le développement du projet dès que possible », espère Pierre Leveille, PDG de la compagnie.

Pour rappel, selon le scénario phare de l’évaluation économique préliminaire publiée en décembre 2020, Haib devrait avoir une durée de vie de 24 ans et rapporter en moyenne 234 millions $ par an à Deep South, pour un prix du cuivre de 3 $ la livre. Le gisement de cuivre Haib est situé à l’extrême sud de la Namibie, 12 à 15 km à l’est de la principale autoroute inter-États reliant le pays à l’Afrique du Sud.

https://www.agenceecofin.com/cuivre/110 ... -africaine

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prospect de Cuivre en Jordanie :

Metal Bank obtains copper exploration rights in Jordan
The Malaqa exploration agreement offers Metal Bank rights to copper exploration within the Um el Amad historical mining zone.

July 20, 2023

ASX-listed mining explorer Metal Bank has received exclusive rights for copper exploration in Jordan through two agreements with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (MEMR).

The first agreement, called the Malaqa exploration agreement, offers Metal Bank exclusive rights to copper exploration within the Um el Amad historical mining zone.

The second agreement is a regional reconnaissance agreement. With support from the MEMR, the company will be able to conduct inspection, assessment and studies for copper resources within the Wadi Araba area under this agreement.

Located in the far north-western region of the well-mineralised Arabian-Nubian Shield, the Wadi Araba area is considered to be highly prospective.

Metal Bank claims that these agreements provide it with a first-mover advantage in the country, where base and precious metal exploration activities have been limited in recent times.

Covering 25km², the Malaqa exploration agreement is located in the central-west of Jordan.

The company has been granted an initial two-year work programme. It will work at the historic near-surface ‘Um el Amad’ stratiform sediment-hosted copper deposit. Historically, this place was mined intermittently.

According to the MEMR, the rocks within the region host nearly 36 million tonnes (mt) of copper at 1.36%. The rocks within the Wadi Araba are reputed to host up to 28mt at 1.51%.

Through the reconnaissance agreement, the company will have the rights to an initial two-year term to conduct studies, reconnaissance, inspection and assessment for copper throughout the Wadi Araba area to identify areas with potential for mineral exploration.

Metal Bank chairperson Inés Scotland said: “The Malaqa region provides MBK with immediate upside with copper resource potential centred on the historic Um el Amad mine; one of the most significant sources of copper in the Roman empire, which has never been subject to modern, systematic exploration.

“Equally exciting is the opportunity to investigate and explore the Proterozoic basement rocks of the Arabian-Nubian Shield (ANS), which outcrop in the Wadi Araba area in southern Jordan. The ANS hosts some world-class deposits such as Jabal Sayid in Saudi Arabia, that we have significant experience with from our time in Saudi.

“While MBK is the sole signatory to the agreements, we will be partnering in Jordan with our previous Saudi Arabian joint venture partner, who has significant business interests in Jordan.”

https://www.mining-technology.com/news/ ... on-jordan/

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Chile wants to boost local copper smelting capacity to rely less on Asian plants

Bloomberg News | July 20, 2023

Chile, the top copper-mining nation, is moving forward with a strategy to grow local processing capacity in a bid to reduce its dependence on Asian smelters and make shipping cleaner.


The Mining Ministry delivered to Congress a plan to upgrade existing smelters and refineries and develop new plants in partnership with the private sector, it said Thursday.

Strengthening smelting capacity is a priority for the leftist government of President Gabriel Boric, which is also looking to capture more value in turning lithium into battery chemicals. More than half of Chile copper output is shipped out in semi-processed form, with the last smelter built back in 1990. More local smelting would reduce waste involved in exporting concentrates and improve traceability. New generation smelters are also much cleaner.

The proposal was formulated after talks with workers, companies and academia, and follows the decision of state-owned miner Codelco to close its Ventanas smelter for environmental reasons. It identifies the leading role of the state — which owns four of Chile’s six existing smelters — in developing new capacity through Codelco and Enami, another state-owned company.

In January, Codelco signed an accord with Europe’s top smelter Aurubis to look into potential areas of collaboration regarding smelting and circular economy projects in Chile. Enami is looking into a project to upgrade the Hernan Videla Lira smelter.

https://www.mining.com/web/chile-wants- ... an-plants/

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Des mines de cuivre vieilles de 2.500 ans découvertes dans le Mercantour
Les seules mines de cuivre de toute la Région Sud, dont l’exploitation dès la protohistoire (c’est-à-dire il y a 2 500 ans) avait pu être attestée, se trouvent dans les Hautes-Alpes, sur le gisement des Clausis, à Saint-Véran... Du moins c’est ce que l’on pensait jusqu’à ce que la découverte de l’étonnant trésor de Roubion ne change la donne.

Eric Galliano Nice-Matin le 28/07/2023


Une galerie cachée par la végétation a été découverte à Roubion. Photo: DR

Un jeune doctorant, Romain Bussone, a mené l’enquête sur la présence de ces pièces massaliotes si loin de la cité phocéenne. Ses recherches l’ont conduit jusqu’au dôme de Barrot, un petit massif escarpé situé au sud de l’Argentera-Mercantour.

C’est là, non loin des gorges de Daluis, que se trouvent la mine de la Roua et ses filons de cuivre. Ils étaient encore exploités au XIXe siècle. Mais leur richesse était manifestement convoitée depuis bien plus longtemps !

Les plus anciennes mines de l’Europe occidentale

Des datations au radiocarbone ont permis de déterminer que la mine de la Roua était déjà exploitée à la protohistoire. Ces galeries creusées à même la falaise sont en fait les plus anciennes de toute l’Europe occidentale !

Les chercheurs y ont notamment découvert des maillets en pierre, ainsi que des outils utilisés entre le IVe et le Ier millénaire avant notre ère. Parmi le matériel retrouvé lors de la prospection figurait aussi un petit lingot d’étain, résidus de fonte, et un petit lingot de bronze.

Autant d’indices qui ne suffisaient toutefois pas à réaliser une datation précise.

Des techniques d’alpinistes

Pour y parvenir, il aura fallu attendre que l’entrée d’une nouvelle galerie jusque-là dissimulée par la végétation, 250 mètres à l’aplomb du Var, soit découverte.

Pour y pénétrer, les chercheurs ont dû utiliser des techniques d’alpiniste. Mais leurs efforts ont été récompensés : à l’intérieur, à même le sol, se trouvaient charbons, bois, torches, ossements d’animaux, maillets de la protohistoire et même un petit dépôt de minerai de cuivre.

Cette fois, nul doute. La mine de Roua était déjà exploitée au IVe siècle avant notre ère. Même s’il est aujourd’hui acquis que le cuivre a servi à forger les pièces du trésor de Roubion, il ne fait plus de doute que nos ancêtres gaulois extrayaient déjà ce minerai dans le Mercantour.

Et en faisait peut-être commerce avec leurs voisins grecs de Marseille. Pour s’en assurer, les recherches se poursuivre. Une incroyable investigation à travers les millénaires.

https://www.nicematin.com/vie-locale/de ... our-863732

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suite de ce post du 19 fev 2023 viewtopic.php?p=2363176#p2363176

Foran secures EIA approval for McIlvenna Bay Project in Canada
With a mine life of 19 years, the project is expected to produce an average of 65 million pounds of copper equivalent annually.

July 27, 2023

Foran Mining has received ministerial approval for its 100%-owned McIlvenna Bay Project in Saskatchewan, Canada, via its wholly owned subsidiary McIlvenna Bay Operating.

Issued under the Environmental Assessment Act (Saskatchewan), the approval marks the conclusion of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the project.

Foran Mining said the approval allows it to progress with addressing the conditions and securing approvals needed to build and operate the project.

Foran executive chairman and CEO Dan Myerson said: “We remain steadfast in our commitment to continue to maintain ongoing two-way dialogue with local communities, indigenous peoples and the Government of Saskatchewan, an approach that has been integral throughout the review of the project.

“As we proceed in developing this project and continue to explore and grow this world-class multi-generational district, we look forward to showcasing the potential of McIlvenna Bay as Canada’s next great critical minerals champion.”

Foran is planning to continue to undertake an early works campaign. This includes completing detailed engineering, procuring critical-path mining and processing equipment, and various infrastructure items, among others.

Saskatchewan premier Scott Moe said: “This milestone in Foran’s McIlvenna Bay project is a positive step towards increasing employment in our northern indigenous communities and sustainably producing new critical minerals like copper in our province.”

The McIlvenna Bay carbon-neutral copper project is said to be the largest undeveloped volcanic-hosted massive sulphide (VHMS) deposit along the prolific Flin Flon Greenstone Belt.

According to the feasibility study, the mine is expected to produce an average of 65 million pounds of copper equivalent annually.

Located entirely within the documented traditional territory of the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation, the McIlvenna Bay project is expected to have a mine life of 18 years.

https://www.mining-technology.com/news/ ... venna-bay/

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Anax secures approval for stage two mining for Australian copper project
The stage two mining proposal allows the company to start mining from the Whim Creek pit, and the installation of the concentrator and the in-pit tailings storage facility.

August 1, 2023

Anax Metals has secured final approval for the stage two mining proposal for the Whim Creek copper-zinc project located 120km south-west of Port Hedland in the central Pilbara Region of Western Australia (WA).

The approval has been issued by the WA Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety.

The Whim Creek copper-zinc project includes the Whim Creek, Mons Cupri, Salt Creek and Evelyn deposits.

Anax managing director Geoff Laing said: “Anax is delighted to have received the final regulatory approvals required to realise our ambitions towards making Whim Creek a first-mover base metals producer in the Pilbara region. We are proud to have delivered on key milestones for the development of the Whim Creek asset and will continue to focus on financing, project expansion and regional consolidation.

“Completion of permitting for development and operations is a very significant step in de-risking our business and adding value.”

The approval of the stage two mining proposal allows Anax to start mining from the Whim Creek Pit and process ore from the Mons Cupri and Whim Creek pits through a conventional flotation processing plant (concentrator).

The concentrator is designed to produce separate copper, lead and zinc concentrates.

Under the mining proposal, Anax will also build a three-cell in-pit tailings storage facility.

The company said that environmental studies are under way to support regulatory approvals for the Evelyn and Salt Creek deposits. Further environmental studies are planned for the second half of this year.

https://www.mining-technology.com/news/ ... -2-copper/

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US adds copper to critical raw materials list
In its finalised Critical Materials Assessment for 2023, the US Government has for the first time included copper as a critical material.

August 4, 2023

The US Department of Energy (DoE) officially added copper to its list of critical raw materials earlier this week in an historic move that reflects the growing importance of energy transition technologies.

In its finalised Critical Materials Assessment for 2023, the US Government has for the first time included copper as a critical material, following the example set by the EU, Japan, India, China and Canada. The Critical Materials Assessment evaluates materials based on whether they “serve an essential function” in the production of energy transition technologies such as electric vehicles (EVs). It is also defined as any non-fuel mineral that has a high risk of supply chain disruption.

The critical materials list will inform eligibility for government subsidies under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA). The final list includes aluminium, cobalt, copper, dysprosium, electrical steel, fluorine, gallium, iridium, lithium, magnesium, natural graphite, neodymium, nickel, platinum, praseodymium, terbium, silicon and silicon carbide.

Alejandro Moreno, Acting Assistant Secretary for the DoE’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, said in a statement: “As our nation continues the transition to a clean energy economy, it is our responsibility to anticipate critical material supply chains needed to manufacture our most promising clean energy generation, transmission, storage and end-use technologies, including solar panels, wind turbines, power electronics, lighting, and electric vehicles.

“Ultimately, identifying and mitigating material criticality now will ensure that a clean energy future is possible for decades to come,” he added.

In March, the US Geological Society (USGS) controversially denied a request to add copper to its official critical minerals list. The request was made by the Copper Development Association (CDA) due to a “dramatic supply risk”.

At the time, the CDA’s president Andrew Kireta criticised the decision as not being “consistent with the spirit or the letter of the law”. Several large copper miners including Rio Tinto, BHP and Freeport-McMoRan are CDA members.

The DoE’s recent assessment provides an updated list to previous Critical Materials Strategy reports, the first of which was released in 2010. It serves as a separate, complementary analysis to other criticality assessments conducted by the US Government, such as those by the USGS.

https://www.mining-technology.com/news/ ... chnologies.

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prospect de cuivre au Yukon, Canada

Granite Creek Seeks Copper Major For Merger With Mothballed Minto Mine In Yukon

Scrap Monster - Thu Aug 17,2023

Granite Creek Copper , part of the Metallic Minerals Group, wants to attract a major company to consolidate a Yukon Territories area into a local copper giant.

Granite’s C$220 million ($162m) Carmacks project, some First Nations property and the past-producing Minto Metals mine would form a 30-year operation able to produce 2 billion lb. copper, according to Granite president and CEO Timothy Johnson. The area is about 280 km by highway south of Dawson City.

“My goal is to attract a larger player to buy Minto out of bankruptcy, consolidate it with us and have us as a developer to de-risk it,” Johnson said in an interview in July in Dawson. “No major wants to come in and deal with the mess that’s there, but they will look for a joint venture partner who has the exploration expertise in the district to turn us into a world class asset.”

Granite Creek is a unit of Metallic Minerals (TSXV: MMG; US-OTC: MMNGF), which is advancing a resource update on the La Plata copper-silver-gold and platinum group elements project in Colorado with the backing of Newcrest (TSX: NCM; ASX: NCM). Metallic Minerals is also developing a placer gold project on Australia Creek in the Klondike with reality TV star Parker Schnabel.


The larger Metallic Group also holds Stillwater Critical Minerals (TSXV: PGE; US-OTC: PGEZF), which is developing the Stillwater West nickel-copper-platinum group elements project in Montana. Glencore (LSE: GLEN) bought 10% of Stillwater in June.

The Yukon government appointed PricewaterhouseCoopers last month as receiver and manager of Minto’s C$76 million in assets and C$70 million in debts. The mine stopped operations and trading on the TSXV in May.

Japan’s Sumitomo Metal Mining started bankruptcy proceedings against Minto to get back C$39 million of copper concentrate, still on the site, it owns as part of an off-take agreement, Johnson said. Minto management fled the country to avoid bankruptcy proceedings, he said, adding that the mine failed because of high costs from running its mill at less than capacity.

Carmacks holds 36.2 million measured and indicated tonnes grading 1.1% copper equivalent for a total of 651 million lb. copper, and an additional 38 million lb. inferred copper at a 0.3% cutoff grade, according to a preliminary economic assessment (PEA) released in January. Minto holds about 500 million lb. copper and the mill vital to the consolidation plan, while the wider area including the First Nations land could hold about 1 billion lb. more, Johnson said.

However, the First Nations concept is in its infancy, there are no concrete offers so far from majors about the consolidation plan and it’s unclear how long it will take to sort out the Minto mine bankruptcy. Carmacks is on a road that would need upgrading about 40 km south of Minto, 60 km from the highway and about 12 km from power lines, the CEO said. Minto is on the Yukon leg of the Alaska Highway about 280 km south of Dawson City.

https://www.barchart.com/story/news/194 ... e-in-yukon

[energy_isere]

suite de ce post du 27 mai 2023 viewtopic.php?p=2370190#p2370190

Botswana : le gouvernement soutient l’agrandissement de la mine de cuivre Motheo

Agence Ecofin 22 aout 2023

Dans sa quête de diversification de son secteur minier, afin de réduire la dépendance à l’exploitation des diamants, le Botswana fonde beaucoup d’espoirs sur le cuivre. Le projet Motheo qui a livré son premier concentré de cuivre en mai dernier, constitue un pilier de cette stratégie.

Au Botswana, le ministère des Mines a approuvé la demande d’extension du permis d’exploitation de la mine de cuivre Motheo. L’autorisation permet au propriétaire de l’actif, l’australien Sandfire Resources, de mettre en œuvre un projet destiné à augmenter de 2 millions de tonnes la capacité annuelle de traitement d’ici le second semestre 2024.

Selon les détails présentés dans un communiqué daté du 21 août, Sandfire devrait commencer les travaux relatifs au développement et à l’exploitation du gisement A4, objet de sa demande de permis, d’ici fin septembre 2023. La montée en puissance progressive de l’usine se poursuivra alors jusqu’à atteindre une capacité de traitement annuelle de 5,2 millions de tonnes et une production de 50 000 tonnes de cuivre par an au cours de l’exercice financier 2025 qui débute le 1er juillet 2024.

Pour rappel, Motheo est entrée en production en mai 2023 et peut livrer 440 000 tonnes de cuivre sur 10 ans. Son inauguration officielle a eu lieu le 10 août dernier en présence du président botswanais Mokgweetsi Masisi.

https://www.agenceecofin.com/cuivre/220 ... vre-motheo