UNDERGROUND

Commercial production for Coeur at Silvertip

Coeur Mining is aiming for 1,000t per day of processing at Silvertip by early 2019

Staff Reporter
Silvertip, located just outside of the Yukon border, achieved commercial production on September 1, 2018

Silvertip, located just outside of the Yukon border, achieved commercial production on September 1, 2018

Officials said the milestone was effective September 1, just one month shy of its first anniversary of acquiring the site just below the Yukon border. It will now focus on continuing its optimisation efforts over the coming several quarters, and is targeting a year-end processing goal of 750t per day on its way to 1,000t per day by early next year.

It is on its way to that goal, having averaged 450t/d in August (at an improved availability of 80%), up from 350t/d in July and 250t/d during June. Last month, processing rates regularly hit the 500t/d to 650t/d range, and by late month exceeded 800t/d.

"We … commenced production in March after successfully commissioning the mill; since then, our team has been focused on optimising plant performance and on upgrading the mine's infrastructure," president and CEO Mitchell Krebs said.

"We continue to be excited about the impact Silvertip is expected to have on our production, margins and cash flow beginning next year."

Coeur said it has so far invested C$51.3 million (US$39 million) in Silvertip, which it owns 100%. Its short-term goals for the site include the construction of improved camp facilities, acceleration of underground development and activity, and the introduction of long-hole stope mining.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining Magazine Intelligence team.

A growing series of reports, each focused on a key discussion point for the mining sector, brought to you by the Mining Magazine Intelligence team.

editions

ESG Mining Company Index: Benchmarking the Future of Sustainable Mining

The ESG Mining Company Index report provides an in-depth evaluation of ESG performance of 61 of the world's largest mining companies. Using a robust framework, it assesses each company across 9 meticulously weighted indicators within 6 essential pillars.

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Exploration Report 2024 (feat. Opaxe data)

A comprehensive review of exploration trends and technologies, highlighting the best intercepts and discoveries and the latest initial resource estimates.

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Future Fleets Report 2024

The report paints a picture of the equipment landscape and includes detailed profiles of mines that are employing these fleets

editions

Mining Magazine Intelligence Digitalisation Report 2023

An in-depth review of operations that use digitalisation technology to drive improvements across all areas of mining production