TORONTO (miningweekly.com) – Vancouver-based Farallon Mining has shipped the first load of zinc concentrate from its G-9 mine, in Mexico, to a North American smelter.

The firm has already sent concentrate to Asian smelters, beginning with deliveries to South Korea and China in February.

A shipment of 4 398 wet metric tons of zinc concentrate was sent to Teck Resources' smelter in Trail, British Columbia, and arrived in Vancouver on June 27.

“Coupled with our earlier shipments to Asian smelters, this delivery of concentrates opens up another customer for our products, which are being well-received in international markets,” said CEO Dick Whittington.

Farallon's G-9 zinc, copper, silver, gold and lead mine at the Campo Morado property in Mexico reached commercial production in April this year.

The company expects to produce at an annualised production rate of 120-million pounds of zinc and 15-million pounds of copper for the remainder of 2009.

Farallon's shares slid 1,67% on Thursday, to C$0,295 each, by 15:58 in Toronto.

To subscribe to Mining Weekly's print magazine email subscriptions@creamermedia.co.za or buy now.