Toronto-based Curragh Resources (TSE) has filed a proposal with the federal government’s Yukon Territorial Water Board for the decomissioning of the tailings area near its zinc-lead operation at Faro, Yukon.
Although Curragh has sufficient reserves in the vicinity of its Faro open pit to operate at least until the year 2,008, the company was required under the Federal Water Licensing Act to file a closure plan by March 31.
Under the proposal, Curragh would spend $5.3 million to upgrade and strengthen the hydrolic capacity of the existing spill way surrounding the Faro open pit which is expected to be mined out next year.
After all reserves at Faro have been exhausted, Vice-President Gregg Jilson said the company is proposing to retreat mine tailings in the 13,500-tonne-per-day concentrator before pumping the processed material into the Faro open pit.
He said the treatment process should generate sufficient revenue to cover any costs and tailings would be kept under water away from erosive elements.
The Curragh proposal, according to Jilson, would cost much less than the impoundment plan cited by the mine’s previous owners Cyprus Anvil Mines. At a cost of around $50 million, Cyprus was planning to contain mine tailings within the Faro pit by flooding a 3-km area around the pit.
Still subject to regulatory approval, the new Curragh proposal represents the final component of its mine decommissioning plan.
Be the first to comment on "Curragh files tailings plan"