The expected lifespan of Yellowhead Mining’s proposed Harper Creek copper-gold-silver mine has been extended from 22 years to 28.
According to a recent media release, the extended project life would be at the previous milling rate of 70,000 tonnes per day.
Capital costs are estimated at $838.95 million, including a contingency of 10 per cent or $76.4 million.
The project as designed is expected to produce a total of 3.63 billion pounds of copper, 372,000 ounces of gold and 14 million ounces of silver contained in concentrate.
The mill is also scheduled to process ore recovered from low-grade stockpile for the last five years of operation. During pre-production in year minus-one a total of 30 million tonnes is expected to be mined predominately for roads, tailings starter dam and other civil construction activities.
The new forecast is based on updated resource estimates released in mid-February that saw a 53 per cent increase in the measured and indicated size of the copper ore body.