Name of the Project
Black Butte copper project.

Location
The project is located on private land near Helena, Montana, in the US.

Client
Tintina Resources, in which Sandfire Resources has a 78.1% stake.

Project Description
The project comprises measured and indicated resources totalling 15.7-million tonnes grading 3.4% copper, 0.1% cobalt and 14 g/t silver for 533 600 t of contained copper, and inferred resources totalling 2.3-million tonnes grading 2.8% copper, 0.09% cobalt and 14 g/t silver for 63 500 t of contained copper.

A preliminary economic assessment completed in 2013 states that the project has the potential to underpin a robust underground mining operation, with forecast production of about 30 000 t/y of copper-in-concentrate over an estimated mine life of 11 years, based on a total mill throughput of 11.8-million tonnes at an average head grade of 3.1% copper.

Potential Job Creation
The project is expected to create 240 jobs in the area.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
Not stated.

Value
Not stated.

Duration
Not stated.

Latest Developments
The Black Butte permitting process has been “slightly delayed”, owing to new environmental requirements in the US state of Montana.

The Black Butte project will be the first new copper mine in the state required to meet a new numeric standard for nitrogen during the growing season.

The company has chosen to include a treated water reservoir in its project design that will enable it to meet the new strict Montana nondegradation standards year-round.

This has resulted in a minor delay as additional information has to be included in the environmental-impact statement, a draft of which will now be ready in 2019.

Meanwhile, the company has held meetings for the feasibility study, led by Denver-based GR Engineering Services. Mining Plus will prepare the mineral reserve statement and SRK Consulting will prepare the mineral resource statement. 

A target completion date is scheduled for the June quarter of 2019.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
GR Engineering Services (definitive feasibility study); Mining Plus (mineral reserve statement) and SRK Consulting (mineral resource statement).

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
Tintina Resources, tel +1 406 547 3466 or email info@tintinaresources.com.