BATTLE MOUNTAIN - Newmont Mining Corporation has identified an exciting opportunity to enhance the Phoenix Mine. By building and operating a Copper Leach Project, it can use rock previously classified as waste rock (non-ore bearing) to produce additional copper, which will add to the value of the Phoenix Mine.
New copper leach pads and processing facilities will be constructed on the southwest side of the Phoenix Mine - largely within the existing mine boundary.
The copper leach process is similar to gold heap leaching. Copper ores are placed on a geosynthetically-lined pad and leached with a dilute sulfuric acid solution to dissolve the copper. The copper is recovered from the solution by absorption onto hydrocarbons (kerosene-based).
The copper is then removed from the hydrocarbons by stripping with stronger acid solutions that are sent through the electrowinning process, plating copper directly on stainless steel cathodes resulting in pure copper sheets.
Construction of the copper leach pads involves about 50 contractor workers for a period of eight months. Construction for the process plant and other facilities would be completed by approximately 150 construction craft working for 18 to 24 months with a one-month peak of 250. Approximately 50 additional longterm employees will operate the Copper Leach Project.
Application for the Copper Leach Project has been submitted to the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and the Nevada Division of Environmental Protection. The BLM has prepared a draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), currently out for public comment.
The Copper Leach Project is projected to have a life of approximately 20 years of active mining. It will not extend the currently planned life of mine at Phoenix.
A closure and reclamation plan including financial guarantees has been developed and will be implemented for the project.
Opportunities for public participation include: the draft EIS public comment period and ongoing communication with Newmont, the BLM, NDEP, county commissions and community stakeholders.
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