Teck Resources Ltd. July 23 reported that its Red Dog mine in Northwest Alaska produced 284,700 metric tons (627.6 million pounds) of zinc and 54,300 metric tons (119.7million lb) of lead over the first six months of 2024, which puts the Northwest Alaska operation on pace to hit the upper end of the metals production guidance established by Teck in February. During the second quarter of this year, Red Dog produced 139,400 metric tons (307.3 million lb) of zinc, which is roughly 4% higher than the 133,700 metric tons (294.8 million lb) produced during the same period last year and 28,900 metric tons (63.7 million lb) of lead, which is roughly 23% higher than last year.Teck attributes the increased zinc and lead production to higher ore grades and metal recoveries.The Red Dog mill processed 1.07 million metric tons of ore averaging 15.8% zinc and 5% lead during the second quarter, compared to 1.1 million metric tons of ore averaging 15% zinc and 4.4% lead during the same period last year.At the same time, the mill recovered 82.5% of the zinc and 54.3% of the lead, both higher than the 81.4% and 48.5% recoveries, respectively, for the second quarter of last year.Zinc and lead concentrates produced at Red Dog over the winter months are stored in large buildings at the Delong Mountain Transportation System port, roughly 50 miles southwest of the mine and mill, to be loaded on ships when ice conditions allow – typically, from July until October. This year, the shipping season at Red Dog began on July 12. Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority The Delong Mountain Transportation System port loads Red Dog zinc and lead concentrates on ships from July until October.Based on the performance over the first half of 2024, Red Dog is on pace to produce roughly 569,000 metric tons (1.26 billion lb) of zinc this year, which accounts for nearly 5% of all the annual zinc mined globally, according to annual production numbers provided by the U.S. Geological Survey.Teck, however, expects annual zinc production at Red Dog to fall by roughly 30% over the coming three years as the quantity and quality of ore dwindles in the area immediately surrounding the mill.There are enough reserves remaining in the deposits currently being mined to keep Red Dog in operation until 2031. Teck, however, is currently advancing additional world-class zinc deposits on state lands in the wider Red Dog district that could provide future ore. This includes the Aktigiruq-Anarraaq Extension Project north of the mill, which hosts a large orebody with zinc grades similar to what is currently being mined from the pits adjacent to the mill at Red Dog.”There is regional geology that suggests there are other deposits as close as 10 miles away that could be as large as the existing deposits that we are operating right now,” Michael Gonzales, manager of tailings and environment at Red Dog, said in a video describing the potential around the mine. “Because it is similar, because it is close by, it is great opportunity.”Author Bio
Shane Lasley, Publisher
Over his more than 16 years of covering mining and mineral exploration, Shane has become renowned for his ability to report on the sector in a way that is technically sound enough to inform industry insiders while being easy to understand by a wider audience.
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