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  3. Mineral Resource Data System (MRDS)

Highland Valley Copper Complex

Plant in British Columbia, Canada with commodities Copper, Gold, Molybdenum, Silver
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Sections on this page
  1. Identification information
  2. Geographic coordinates
  3. Site location context
  4. Geographic areas
  5. Commodities
  6. Nearby scientific data
  7. Economic information about the deposit and operations
  8. Ownership information
  9. Production statistics
  10. Reserves and resources
  11. Workings at the site
  12. Links to other databases
  13. Bibliographic references
  14. General comments
  15. Reporter information

Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10181579
MAS/MILS ID 1220100114
Record type Site
Current site name Highland Valley Copper Complex
Alternate or previous names Lornex, Valley Copper, Highmont, Gnawed Mountain, Lake Zone

Geographic coordinates

Point of reference Ore Body
Geographic coordinates: -121.03876, 50.44983 (WGS84)
Elevation 1550
Location accuracy 500(meters)

Site location context

Political divisions (FIPS codes)

Alaska(state)

United States(country)

North America(continent)

Land(continent)

Geographic areas

Country State
Canada British Columbia

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Copper Primary
Gold Secondary
Molybdenum Secondary
Silver Secondary

Nearby scientific data

Ore Body (1) -121.03876, 50.44983
ListMap

Economic information

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Surface
Development status Plant
Commodity type Metallic
Significant Yes
Discovery year 1964
Mining method Open Pit
Year of first production 1986
Plant type Beneficiation (Mill)
Plant subcategory Flotation
Milling method Flotation

Ownership information

  • Type Operator
    Owner Highland Valley Copper
    Home office Canada
    Year 1994
  • Type Owner
    Owner Cominco Ltd.
    Interest 50
    Home office Canada
    Year 1994
  • Type Owner
    Owner Rio Algom Ltd.
    Interest 33.6
    Home office Canada
    Year 1994
  • Type Owner
    Owner Teck Corp.
    Interest 13.9
    Home office Canada
    Year 1994
  • Type Owner
    Owner Highmont Mining Co.
    Interest 2.5
    Home office Canada
    Year 1994

Production statistics

  • Year 1986
    Description .41% Cu, .016% Mo, 2.1 G Ag, .01 G Au 20508000 Mt Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Trace Ore Gold Gold 0g/mt
    Major Ore Copper Copper 0wt-pct
    Trace Ore Silver Silver 2g/mt
    Trace Ore Molybdenum Molybdenum 0wt-pct
  • Year 1987
    Description .44% Cu, .011% Mo, 2.4 G Ag, .O2 G Au 41999000 Mt Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Trace Ore Gold Gold 0g/mt
    Major Ore Copper Copper 0wt-pct
    Trace Ore Silver Silver 2g/mt
    Trace Ore Molybdenum Molybdenum 0wt-pct
  • Year 1988
    Description .47% Cu, .009% Mo, 2.9 G Ag, .02 G Au 44109000 Mt Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Trace Ore Gold Gold 0g/mt
    Major Ore Copper Copper 0wt-pct
    Trace Ore Silver Silver 3g/mt
    Trace Ore Molybdenum Molybdenum 0wt-pct
  • Year 1989
    Description .425% Cu, .009% Mo, 2.7g Ag, .02g Au 32324000 Mt Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Trace Ore Gold Gold 0g/mt
    Major Ore Copper Copper 0wt-pct
    Trace Ore Silver Silver 3g/mt
    Trace Ore Molybdenum Molybdenum 0wt-pct
  • Year 1990
    Description .428% Cu, .008% Mo, 2.7g Ag, .02g Au 46263000 Mt Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Trace Ore Gold Gold 0g/mt
    Major Ore Copper Copper 0wt-pct
    Trace Ore Silver Silver 3g/mt
    Trace Ore Molybdenum Molybdenum 0wt-pct
  • Year 1991
    Description .441% Cu, .008% Mo, 2.9g Ag, .02g Au. 46292000 Mt Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Trace Ore Gold Gold 0g/mt
    Major Ore Copper Copper 0wt-pct
    Trace Ore Silver Silver 3g/mt
    Trace Ore Molybdenum Molybdenum 0wt-pct
  • Year 1992
    Description .451% Cu, .008% Mo, 2.9g Ag, .02g Au 44064000 Mt Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Trace Ore Gold Gold 0g/mt
    Major Ore Copper Copper 0wt-pct
    Trace Ore Silver Silver 3g/mt
    Trace Ore Molybdenum Molybdenum 0wt-pct
  • Year 1993
    Description .417% Cu, .008% Mo, 2.9g Ag, .02g Au. 44473000 Mt Ore
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Trace Ore Gold Gold 0g/mt
    Major Ore Copper Copper 0wt-pct
    Trace Ore Silver Silver 3g/mt
    Trace Ore Molybdenum Molybdenum 0wt-pct

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1993
    Indicated 692000000mt ore
    Demonstrated 692000000mt ore
    Total resources 692000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Molybdenum MoS2 0.0069 wt-pct Molybdenum Minor 1993
    Copper Cu 0.414 wt-pct Copper Major 1993
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1995
    Demonstrated 540000000mt ore
    Total resources 540000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Molybdenum Mo 0.007 wt-pct Molybdenum Minor 1995
    Copper Cu 0.42 wt-pct Copper Major 1995
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1997
    Demonstrated 538000000mt ore
    Total resources 538000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 0.422 wt-pct Copper Major 1997
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1985
    Indicated 48000000mt ore
    Demonstrated 48000000mt ore
    Total resources 48000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Molybdenum Mo 0.024 wt-pct Molybdenum Minor 1985
    Copper Cu 0.27 wt-pct Copper Major 1985
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1990
    Indicated 776500000mt ore
    Demonstrated 776500000mt ore
    Total resources 776500000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Molybdenum Mo 0.0072 wt-pct Molybdenum Minor 1990
    Copper Cu 0.413 wt-pct Copper Major 1990
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1992
    Indicated 692000000mt ore
    Demonstrated 692000000mt ore
    Total resources 692000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Molybdenum Mo 0.0069 wt-pct Molybdenum Minor 1992
    Copper Cu 0.414 wt-pct Copper Major 1992
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1994
    Measured 594600000mt ore
    Demonstrated 594600000mt ore
    Total resources 594600000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Molybdenum Mo 0.0073 wt-pct Molybdenum Minor 1994
    Copper Cu 0.425 wt-pct Copper Major 1994
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1994
    Inferred 32000000mt ore
    Total resources 32000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 0.45 wt-pct Copper Major 1994
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1995
    Demonstrated 692000000mt ore
    Total resources 692000000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Molybdenum Mo 0.011 wt-pct Molybdenum Minor 1995
    Copper Cu 0.39 wt-pct Copper Major 1995

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • MID-1986 VALLEY COPPER, LORNEX AND HIGHMONT OPERATIONS COMBINED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF RATIONALIZATION OF PLANT FACILITIES AND MINERAL RESOURCES. INCLUDES LAKE ZONE, LORNEX, HIGHMONT, GNAWED MTN. AND JERSEY PIT
  • COLUMNS 1 THRU 3 ARE FOR EVALUATIONS PREVIOUS TO 1/87. COLUMN 5 IS FOR EVALUATION DATED 1/87-TOTAL. COLUMN 6 = LORNEX + VALLEY DEPOSITS. COLUMN 7 = HIGHMONT AND COLUMN 6. COLUMN 8 = GNAWED MOUNTAIN AND COLUMN 7.

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Surface
    Area 80HA
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method ACTUAL
    Mining Method OPEN PIT
    Percent Waste Rock .7
    Hardness of Ore M-HARD ROCKS
    Capacity 128600
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Operating Days per Year 350
    Operating Shifts per Day 3
    Year of Information 1986
  • Type of workings Surface
    Area 511HA
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 2
    Status of Mining Method PROPOSED
    Mining Method OPEN PIT
    Percent Waste Rock 70.6
    Avg. Overburden Thickness 55
    Primary Material Cover SAND, GRAVEL
    Percentage 69
    Secondary Material Cover M-HARD ROCKS
    Percentage 31
    Hardness of Ore M-HARD ROCKS
    Avg. Bench Height (meters) 15
    Max. Pit Slope (degrees) 45
    Capacity 128600
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Operating Days per Year 350
    Operating Shifts per Day 3
  • Type of workings Surface
    Area 50HA
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 3
    Status of Mining Method PROPOSED
    Mining Method OPEN PIT
    Percent Waste Rock 57
    Avg. Overburden Thickness 4
    Primary Material Cover SAND, GRAVEL
    Hardness of Ore M-HARD ROCKS
    Avg. Bench Height (meters) 12
    Max. Pit Slope (degrees) 45
    Capacity 128600
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Operating Days per Year 350
    Operating Shifts per Day 3
    Year of Information 1986

Reference information

Bibliographic references

  • Reserve-Resource

    CANADIAN MINING HANDBOOK, 19871988, P. 98, 251, 375.

  • Reserve-Resource

    RIO ALGOM LTD., 1993 ANNUAL REPORT, P.22,23.

  • Reserve-Resource

    CANADIAN MINING HANDBOOK, 1986-1987, P. 248.

  • Reserve-Resource

    CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL, NOVEMBER, 1979.

  • Reserve-Resource

    MBM, HIGHLAND VALLEY MINERS LOWER COSTS BY POOLING

  • Reserve-Resource

    RESOURCES, AUG 1989, P. 12-13.

  • Reserve-Resource

    CMH, 1986-1987, P. 362.

  • Reserve-Resource

    CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL, NOVEMBER, 1979, P. 46-47.

  • Reserve-Resource

    TECK CORP., 1989 ANNUAL REPORT, P.15.

  • Reserve-Resource

    TECK CORP., 1991 ANNUAL REPORT, P.13.

  • Reserve-Resource

    TECK CORP., 1992 ANNUAL REPORT, P.12.

  • Reserve-Resource

    TECK CORP., 1993 ANNUAL REPORT, P.10,11.

  • Reserve-Resource

    CANADIAN MINES HANDBOOK, 1991-1992, P-370.

  • Reserve-Resource

    CANADIAN MINES HANDBOOK, 1992-1993, P-344.

  • Reserve-Resource

    COMINCO LTD., 1993 ANNUAL REPORT, P.35.

  • Reserve-Resource

    RIO ALGOM LTD., 1994 ANNUAL REPORT, P.4,5,22,23.

  • Reserve-Resource

    METALL MINING CORP. 1993 ANNUAL REPORT, P.25,26.

  • Reserve-Resource

    TECK CORP., 1996 ANNUAL REPORT, P.17.

  • Deposit

    MAYRS, BILL, THE VALLEY OF COPPER, CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL,

  • Deposit

    SEPT., 1986, P. 21-23.

  • Deposit

    SCALES, MARILYN, GRINDING OUT PROFIT, CANADIAN MINING

  • Deposit

    JOURNAL, NOV., 1986, P. 37-38.

  • Deposit

    HANSON, POUL, HIGHLAND VALLEY COPPER: A STRAGEDY FOR

  • Deposit

    INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY, CIM BULL., AUG., 1987, P. 42-45.

  • Deposit

    MAYCOCK, JOYCE, CUTTING HAULAGE COSTS WITH NEW CONVEYOR

  • Deposit

    SYSTEM, CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL, AUG., 1987, P. 26-27.

  • Deposit

    RAYMOND, G.F. AND ARMSTRONG, W.P., SAMPLE BIAS AND

  • Deposit

    CONDITIONAL PROBABILITY ORE RESERVE ESTIMATION AT VALLEY,

  • Deposit

    CIM BULL., VOL. 81, NO. 911, MARCH 1988, P. 128-136.

  • Deposit

    SCOTT, M.D., HIGHLAND COPPER'S IN-PIT CRUSHING AND

  • Deposit

    CONVEYING SYSTEM, CIM BULL., VOL. 81, NO. 917, SEPT. 1988,

  • Deposit

    P. 50-56.

  • Deposit

    NEWCOMEN, H. WARREN AND MARTIN, DENNIS C., GEOTECHNICAL

  • Deposit

    ASSESSMENT OF THE SOUTHEAST WALL SLOPE FAILURE AT HIGHMONT

  • Deposit

    MINE, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CIM BULL., VOL. 81, NO. 917,

  • Deposit

    SEPT., 1988, P. 71-76.

  • Deposit

    ANON., HIGHMONT MILL MOVES DOWN THE HILL...ON PURPOSE!,

  • Deposit

    E&MJ, OCT. 1988, P. 11.

  • Deposit

    WALKER, SIMON, HIGHLAND VALLEY; THE PROFITABLE COMBINATION,

  • Deposit

    INTERNATIONAL MINING, OCT. 1988, P. 20-23.

  • Deposit

    SCOTT, M.D., HIGHLAND VALLEY COPPER: TRUCK, CRUSH, CONVEY,

  • Deposit

    WORLD MINING EQUIPMENT, JAN. 1989, P. 19-21.

  • Deposit

    TECK CORP., PEACE IN THE VALLEY, NORTHERN MINER MAGAZINE,

  • Deposit

    5/87, P. 59.

  • Deposit

    SPORLEDER, LISA E., HIGHLAND VALLEY COPPER, A WORLD-CLASS

  • Deposit

    COPPER PARTNERSHIP, E&MJ, 8/89, P.44-46.

  • Deposit

    PERSONAL COMMUNICATION FROM P.C.F. CROWSON OF RTZ CORP.

  • Deposit

    TO PROFESSOR RAYMOND F. MIKESELL, DATED 16 JUNE, 1989.

  • Deposit

    KENNEDY, ALAN, HIGHLAND VALLEY: B.C.'S WORLD CLASS COPPER

  • Deposit

    MINE, MARCH 1991, P. 132-138.

  • Deposit

    DUVAL, DAVID, COST CUTTER, NORTHERN MINER MAGAZINE, 5/87,

  • Deposit

    P. 59.

  • Deposit

    SCALES, MARILYN, ECONOMIES OF SCALE, CANADIAN MINING

  • Deposit

    JOURNAL, 6/89, P. 87-92.

  • Deposit

    HANSEN, POUL, A TEMPORARY USE OF THE LAND AT HIGHLAND VALLEY

  • Deposit

    COPPER, CIM BULLETIN, JULY/AUGUST, 1992, P. 71-72.

  • Deposit

    MACPHAIL, A. DAVID, MINING AT HIGHLAND VALLEY COPPER, CIM

  • Deposit

    BULLETIN, JULY/AUGUST, 1992, P. 73-77.

  • Deposit

    DALY, S. AND D. ASSMUS, BLAST OPTIMIZATION AND STABILITY

  • Deposit

    ENHANCEMENT THROUGH GEOTECHNICAL MAPPING AT HIGHLAND

  • Deposit

    VALLEY COPPER, CIM BULLETIN, JULY/AUGUST, 1992, P. 78-84.

  • Deposit

    SCOTT, M.D., R.C. LO, OPTIMAL TAILINGS MANAGEMENT AT HIGH-

  • Deposit

    LAND VALLEY COPPER, CIM BULLETIN, JULY/AUGUST, 1992,

  • Deposit

    P. 85-88.

  • Deposit

    THE NORTHERN MINER, APRIL 19, 1993, P. 15.

  • Deposit

    BURGER, JOHN R., HIGHLAND VALLEY MINERS LOWER COSTS BY

  • Deposit

    POOLING RESOURCES, METAL BULLETIN MONTHLY, 8/89, P.12-13.

  • Deposit

    NORTHERN MINER MAGAZINE, OPEN PIT GIANTS OF BRITISH

  • Deposit

    COLUMBIA, 7/92, P.11-13.

  • Deposit

    METAL BULLETIN, HIGHLAND VALLEY SETTLES MORE COPPER TC'S,

  • Deposit

    8/2/93, P.6.

  • Deposit

    NORTHERN MINER, 6/20/94, P.3.

  • Deposit

    MACPHAIL, A.D., D.M. RICHARDS, IN-PIT CRUSHING AND CONVEYING

  • Deposit

    AT HIGHLAND VALLEY COPPER, MINING ENGINEERING, 10/94,

  • Deposit

    P.1186-1190.

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit PRODUCTION OF THE COMBINATION OF LORNEX AND VALLEY BEGAN IN 1986, HOWEVER, PRODUCTION IN THE LORNEX PIT BEGAN IN 1972, AND IT EXPANDED IN 1981. MINING OF THE VALLEY ORE WITH THE BETHLEHEM CONCENTRATOR BEGAN IN 1983.

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 17-JUL-97 Palencia, Cesar M. U.S. Bureau of Mines

Beyond USGS

Supplemental information added by qvyshift.com. Not part of the original USGS MRDS record.

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