Hudbay is getting drills turning for more northern exploration, not far from its Lalor mine and Snow Lake facilities.
The company is increasing its exploration operations around Snow Lake, particularly with an area north of Lalor mine. Drilling in the area is focused on an area deep beneath surface - a possible extension of the ore body Lalor was built on and currently mines.
“Currently, surface exploration activities are underway north of Lalor mine, targeting down-plunge of our high-grade copper and gold zones,” reads a statement to The Reminder from a Hudbay spokesperson.
“This step-out drill program, with five drills turning, will explore at depths of 1,500 to 2,000 metres from surface.”
While the company is bullish on expanding its Snow Lake-area exploration, no exploration projects in the immediate vicinity of Flin Flon were announced. When asked if Hudbay is or would be conducting exploration of the area, the spokesperson did not refer to any operations in the area, though they did note the company has not ruled out the possibility of doing so in the future.
“Hudbay continues to be optimistic on the potential in the Flin Flon-Snow Lake greenstone belt and will, as we always have, evaluate future exploration programs in the area, while continuing with the expansion of operations in Snow Lake,” said the spokesperson.
“Once again, these efforts reiterate our commitment to northern Manitoba and demonstrate our intentions to work toward many years of growth, improvement and value creation in the region.”
The company shut down much of its local operations last year. Hudbay conducted its final blast at 777 mine in June, followed by shutting down operations at the mine days later and processing that final ore later in the month. The mine itself was shut down formally in August. Last fall, Hudbay oversaw the filling of 777’s portal, removal of several parts of key infrastructure and an auction sale of hundreds of pieces of equipment. Items not sold by the company have been moved to its Snow Lake facilities.
The company has also moved workers from its Flin Flon operations to operations near Snow Lake, like Lalor mine and the New Britannia mill.
The company has kept its tailings facility on care and maintenance, both to provide a back-up plan in case facilities in Flin Flon kick back up and to fulfill the company’s own environmental obligations to the site.
Hudbay’s positions in Flin Flon are mainly now in administrative duties, the machine shop at the compound, maintenance of the tailings pond and other assorted work.
The company’s current estimated mine life for Lalor mine and other Snow Lake facilities will continue until 2037, pending further exploration or any changes.
