Production climbs at Imperial's BC mines

Imperial Metals Corp. Jan. 18 reported that its share of 2016 production from three British Columbia mines totaled 119.17 million pounds copper, 94,930 ounces gold and 330,960 oz. silver, up from the 88.13 million lb copper, 44,710 oz gold and 224,530 oz of silver produced in 2015.

The 2016 totals include the first full year of operations at the Red Chris mine in northern B.C.; copper and gold produced at the re-opened Mount Polley Mine in the central part of the province; and Imperial's 50 percent share from eight months production at Huckleberry, a smaller operation that was placed on care and maintenance in August.

The Red Chris Mine produced 83.61 million lb of copper in 2016, which is 1.6 percent less than the low end of Imperial's 2016 guidance for the operation.

The 47,090 oz of gold produced at this northern B.C. operation, however, was about the midpoint of the company's target for the year.

For 2017, Imperial is targeting the production of 85 million to 92 million lb of copper and 40,000 to 45,000 oz gold at Red Chris.

Imperial's Mount Polly Mine produced 25.34 million lb of copper and 46,440 oz of gold in 2016, both of which were slightly below the low end of the company's guidance for last year.

The Vancouver, B.C.-based mining company is targeting 26 million to 29 million lb copper and 55,000 to 60,000 oz of gold produced at Mount Polly in 2017.

-SHANE LASLEY