The mine, which began operations in 1983, uses conventional open-pit mining methods with large electric-powered shovels that can each move up to 100,000 tons of waste rock and ore per day. The shovels load ore into 200-ton trucks to be hauled to an on-site mill (concentrator). A molybdenum disulfide concentrate is extracted from the ore through a series of crushing, grinding, and flotation operations.
Daily throughput of ore at the mill has recently averaged close to 28,000 tons per day. Most of the molybdenum disulfide concentrate produced at the mine is further processed into technical grade molybdenum oxide at the Langeloth Metallurgical Facility in Pennsylvania.
In February 2011, Thompson Creek announced new estimates for mineral resources and reserves (see table below) and a 15-year mine plan.
The new reserves and mine life calculations are as of January 1, 2011 and assume a molybdenum price of US$15 per pound and updated costs. Click here to view the 43-101 technical report dated February 9, 2011 on the mineral resources and mineral reserves estimates and the life of mine plan.
Thompson Creek Mine - Mineral Reserves1
| Category | Tons (millions) |
Grade (%Mo) |
Contained Mo (millions lbs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proven Reserves | 84.5 | 0.089 | 152.2 |
| Probable Reserves | 68.4 | 0.070 | 95.3 |
| Proven and Probable - Total | 152.9 | 0.081 | 247.5 |
Thompson Creek Mine - Mineral Resources2
(Resources are in addition to the Reserves in the chart above)
| Category | Tons (millions) |
Grade (%Mo) |
Contained Mo (millions lbs) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Measured Resources | 25.3 | 0.041 | 20.3 |
| Indicated Resources | 34.0 | 0.050 | 34.0 |
| Measured and Indicated - Total | 59.4 | 0.046 | 54.3 |
| Additional Inferred Resources | 2.7 | 0.043 | 2.3 |
1 The mineral reserve estimates for the Thompson Creek Mine were prepared by mine personnel and verified by John M. Marek, Registered Professional Engineer, of Independent Mining Consultants, Inc. ("IMC"), who is a qualified person under Canadian National Instrument 43-101 ("43-101"), and utilized a cut-off grade of 0.030% molybdenum. Data verification and block model assembly was completed by Michael J. Lechner of Resource Modeling Inc. The mineral reserves were estimated using an average long-term molybdenum price of US$12.00 per pound. The Thompson Creek Mine has limited ability to expand its pit due to limitations on tailing capacity. Therefore, the final pit design reflects the maximum ore capacity that can be produced in the foreseeable future.
2 The mineral resources for the Thompson Creek Mine were estimated using optimized pit shells at a molybdenum price of US$15.00 per pound. Mr. Marek was the qualified person for the estimation of mineral resources.
