Development work at the Montanore copper-silver project near Libby, Mont., remains suspended because of environmental problems.
Noranda (TSE), 55% owner of the project, was forced to shut down operations in late November in response to an advisory from the Montana Department of State Lands which required the company to take immediate action to reduce nitrate levels in the waters of Libby Creek.
The elevated nitrate levels are the result of blasting activity from the development of a 16,200-ft.-long decline to the Montanore deposit. Mark Petersmeyer, project director, said the decline was stopped at 14,006 ft., about 2,200 ft. short of its target. He notes that the nitrate levels, although higher than before work was started, are still better than drinking water standards. He says the nitrate levels do not pose any health risk to the public, fish or wildlife using the creek, and that the nitrate levels drop back below threshold downstream from the work area.
Noranda has stated that it views the issue of nitrate levels as a legal technicality used to halt work on the project, and notes that the nitrates pose no distinguishable threat to the environment.
The decline is part of a US$45-million development program designed to bring the project to bankable feasibility.
Discovered by U.S. Borax and subsequently sold to Noranda, the deposit has had relatively little drilling. Reserves are estimated at 134 million tons grading 0.8% copper and 2 oz. silver per ton. The estimate is based on 29 drill-hole intercepts out of a 39-hole program.
On completion of the decline, the company plans to drill off the deposit from underground drill stations as well as complete other feasibility work. The deposit lies under a wilderness area, making further drilling from surface virtually impossible. Noranda is operating from a private block of land adjacent to the wilderness area.
Petersmeyer says Noranda assigned a scientist to the project in order to find a solution to the nitrate problem although he notes that available treatment technologies for removing nitrates from water are very complicated and may not be economically viable.
In the meantime, Petersmeyer says the company will continue with permitting efforts. A draft Environmental Impact Statement (E.I.S.) was filed about a year ago and the company hopes to complete the final E.I.S. by the second quarter of 1992. He adds that final permits could be in hand by the end of 1992.
The balance of the Montanore project is owned by Montana Reserves, a private company based in Spokane, Wash.
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