Kutcho Copper says ore sorting could reduce costs, footprint of British Columbia project

Kutcho Copper (TSXV: KC) says results are positive from recently tested ore sorting at its copper-zinc project 100 km east of Dease Lake, British Columbia. By using an X-ray transmission sensor, 16% of the low-grade and waste material is removed. That represents an over 13% reduction in the amount of ore that reports to the mineral processing plant.

There are environmental and cost savings to be had by reducing the volume of mill feed such as a smaller mill, lower power and water demand, and a smaller tailings management facility – all of which represents a significant reduction in pre-production capital spending, the company said.

Batch tests of bulk samples were conducted on a production scale TOMRA ore sorter. Results indicate that 17% of the run-of-mine material will be less than 12.5-mm size and bypass the sorter. Of the plus 12.5-mm feed, 99% of the copper, zinc, silver and gold in the ore was recovered in material passing through the sorter.

(This article first appeared in the Canadian Mining Journal)