Photo by: Teck
Name of the Mine
Red Dog mine.
Location
On lands owned by NANA Regional Corporation, a regional Alaska native corporation, in north-west Alaska, in the US.
Mine Owner/s
Teck Alaska, a wholly owned subsidiary of Teck.
Brief Description
Red Dog is one of the world's biggest zinc mines.
The current mine life, based on existing developed deposits, is expected to extend to 2031.
Brief History
The mine started production in 1989 and started shipping concentrates in 1990. Concentrates produced at Red Dog are shipped to Teck’s metallurgical facilities in Trail, British Columbia, and to customers in Asia and Europe.
Primary Metals/Minerals
Zinc/lead.
Secondary Metals/Minerals
None stated.
Geology/Mineralisation
Red Dog comprises several sedimentary-hosted exhalative lead/zinc sulphide deposits, hosted in Mississippian- to Pennsylvanian-age sedimentary rocks. The lens-shaped orebodies occur within structurally controlled (thrust faults) plates, which are relatively flat-lying and are hosted by marine clastic rocks (shales, siltstones and turbidites), as well as lesser chert and carbonate rocks. Barite rock is common in and above the sulphide units. Silicification is the dominant alteration type.
The sulphide mineralisation comprises semimassive to massive sphalerite, pyrite, marcasite and galena. Common textures within the sulphide zone include massive, fragmental, veined and, seldom, sedimentary layering.
Reserves
Total proven and probable reserves as at December 31, 2023, were estimated at 34.3-million tonnes grading 12% zinc and 3.4% lead.
Resources
Total indicated resources were estimated at 7.8-million tonnes grading 7.6% zinc and 5.8% lead as at December 31, 2023. Inferred mineral resources were estimated at nine-million tonnes grading 12.6% zinc and 4.2% lead.
Type of Mine
Openpit.
Mining Method
Truck-and-load, using conventional drill-and-blast mining methods.
Major Infrastructure/Equipment
The mine uses a fleet of large mining trucks, loaders and drills. The mine includes a processing plant where the extracted ore undergoes crushing, grinding and flotation processes to separate zinc and lead concentrates from the ore.
Prospects
The current mine life, based on existing developed deposits, is expected to extend until 2031; however, studies to exploit portions of Red Dog infrastructure, for instance the concentrator, are under way as part of the mine’s Aktigiruq-Annaaraq exploration project.
Contact Details
Teck
Tel + 1 604 699 4257
Email investors@teck.com
Sources
Teck. Website: https://www.teck.com/
Teck. Annual information form (February 22, 2024).