Rio Blanco takes shape

Early progress on a final feasibility study for the Rio Blanco copper-molybdenum project in northern Peru proposes mining the deposit at 25 million tonnes annually.

The feasibility study, being done by consulting firm Hatch for Monterrico Metals (MMTLF-O, MNA-L) envisions that production rate in the first three to five years of mining, which would produce 210,000 tonnes copper and 2,450 tonnes molybdenum in two concentrates.

The mine would exploit a measured and indicated resource of 269 million tonnes in a supergene zone, with average grades of 0.73% copper and 0.014% molybdenum, and 548 million tonnes in a primary sulphide zone averaging 0.53% copper and 0.011% molybdenum. There is an inferred resource of 441 million tonnes grading 0.52% copper and 0.024% molybdenum.

Head grades would average 0.87% copper and 0.02% molybdenum over the first five years of mining. Preliminary pit designs enclose about 500 million tonnes with grades of 0.63% copper and 0.022% molybdenum, with a cutoff grade of 0.4% copper and a stripping ratio down to 0.73.

The ongoing studies have identified a site for the mill and a route for a 300-km slurry pipeline to transport a bulk concentrate to a port, where it would feed a separation plant that would produce copper and molybdenum concentrates. Hatch is down to a short list of locations for a tailings facility.

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