Partners Western Copper Holdings (TSE) and Thermal Exploration (ASE) are requesting bids from engineering firms for a feasibility study on the Williams Creek copper-gold project 25 miles from Carmacks, Y.T.
The partners have approved a $1-million program this season, which includes mining a 250-ton sample that will be shipped to Carmacks for a bulk test using solvent extraction-electrowinning (SX-EW).
Williams Creek has a preliminary geological reserve of 22 million tons grading 1.06% copper and 0.013 oz. gold per ton. This includes an open-pit reserve of 12.5 million tons grading 1.15% copper and 0.015 oz. gold per ton, with an overall strip ratio of about four-to-one. Metallurgical testing indicates that more than 80% of the copper is recoverable using SX-EW. A crew was recently mobilized to begin mining the bulk sample from the north end of the No. 1 zone. The pilot plant will be built in Carmacks, where the material will be crushed to 34 inch. The Yukon government recently provided the joint venture a $100,000 grant towards the pilot-plant project. The test will simulate a 20-ft.-high leach pile, beginning in September and continuing through to December. The partners say this will enable them to monitor the kinetics of the leach solutions during the colder operating months. In the meantime, the partners are involved in pre-permitting. Both companies say they have been encouraged by the support and co-operation of the Yukon government, the village of Carmacks, and a local native group. A production decision is expected in 1994, based on the results of this year’s pilot plant test and feasibility study.
The property is accessible by road and covers other mineralized zones that have yet to be fully evaluated.
Be the first to comment on "Pilot plant for Williams Creek"