Name and Location
Florence Copper in situ copper recovery (ISCR) facility, Arizona, US.

Client
Florence Copper Incorporated, a wholly owned subsidiary of Taseko Mines.

Project Description
The Florence deposit contains 2.4-billion pounds of copper in 340-million tons of probable reserves.

The project proposes to build and operate an ISCR facility and produce an average of 55-million pounds of copper a year for the first six years and 85-million pounds a year for 14 years.

The full commercial life of the project is expected to be 25 years.

ISCR is an extraction method used for selected mineral deposit conditions as an alternative to openpit or underground mining methods.

The ISCR process uses a mild solution of 99.5% water and 0.5% acid that slowly dissolves copper in the bedrock. The diluted solution is pumped under low pressure through injection wells to dissolve the copper within the copper oxide zone.

Copper-rich solution is pumped to the surface through recovery wells for processing into pure copper cathode sheets.

The in situ process will occur from 122 m to 366 m below ground in a bedrock layer beneath the lower aquifer unit from where local drinking water supplies are withdrawn.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
Not stated.

Value
Taseko Mines will spend an estimated $208-million to develop the project.

Duration
Not stated.

Latest Developments
The Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) announced its intention in April this year to issue a significant amendment to a Temporary Aquifer Protection Permit for the Florence copper project.

This decision confirmed that the ADEQ had completed its substantive review and that it was satisfied with the conditions under which the production test facility (PTF) could operate once the final permit was issued.

With this permit, Taseko has received 20 of the 21 authorisations needed to operate the PTF.

When the final permit is issued, the company intends to progress with the construction and operation of the $25-million PTF.

The PTF will be a small-scale test facility with four injection wells and 20 recovery wells.

Using the PTF will enable Florence Copper to demonstrate and enhance best water management practices and optimise new treatment technologies.

Key Contracts and Suppliers
None stated.

On Budget and on Time?
Not stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
Florence Copper Incorporated manager of communications and public affairs, Stacy Gramazio, tel +1 520 374 3984 or email stacygramazio@florencecopper.com.