Teck adjusts to Qanaiyaq ore

Teck Resources Ltd. April 25 reported the Red Dog Mine in Northwest Alaska produced 127,800 metric tons of zinc during the first quarter, a sixteen percent drop compared to the same period last year.

The company attributed this drop to challenges of processing the higher grade but more complex ore from Qanaiyaq, the new pit at Red Dog.

During the first quarter, ore from Qanaiyaq pit was introduced to supplement declining grade ore from the Aqqaluk pit. However, mill performance was adversely affected by these metallurgically complex ores, particularly the highly oxidized material near the surface.

During the second quarter, Teck lowered the amount of Qanaiyaq ore processed, which resulted in an increase over the 102,500 metric tons of zinc produced during the first quarter.

Qanaiyaq ore is expected to become less oxidized as the pit is deepened, and Teck expects to include more of this higher grade material in the feed as it gains more experience with this ore.

While zinc production is down, second quarter lead production increased 17 percent compared to last year, primarily due to higher grades.

Teck anticipates producing 475,000 to 500,000 metric tons of zinc and 110,000 to 115,000 metric tons of lead at Red Dog in 2017.

-SHANE LASLEY