Name of the Project
South Crofty critical minerals project.

Location
Cornwall, England.

Project Owner/s
Canadian explorer Cornish Metals Inc.

Project Description
South Crofty is in the lowest quartile of the industry cost curve, ranking among the lowest-cost tin producers. The mine will potentially be the first primary tin-producing mine in Europe.

The project is proposed to be mined as an underground operation using sublevel open stoping (SLOS) methods from historical infrastructure. 

Underground operations will use the existing New Cook’s Kitchen (NCK) main shaft, and existing main levels spaced about every 45 m. The NCK shaft is one of seven main shafts accessing the mine workings and, historically, was the main hoisting shaft.

New development is planned by ramps, providing mobile fleet access throughout the mine. All material from the lower mine will be hoisted through the NCK shaft, while upper mine material will be trucked using extensions from the existing surface decline.

The proposed mine is based on mined throughput of about 500 000 t/y and processing of about 250 000 t/y following preconcentration at an average tin grade of 1.89%.

Production of tin in concentrate is expected to exceed 49 000 t over the 14-year life-of-mine, averaging about 4 700 t/y in the first five years after ramp-up.

Potential Job Creation
The project is expected to create more than 300 direct jobs, and a further 1 000 indirect jobs.

Net Present Value/Internal Rate of Return
The project has a pretax net present value, at a 6% (real) discount rate, of £237-million and an internal rate of return of 23%.

Capital Expenditure
Preproduction capital is estimated at £198-million, with a payback of 3.3 years.

Planned Start/End Date
First tin production is targeted for mid-2028.

Latest Developments
Cornish Metals is progressing towards starting commercial production at the South Crofty project by mid-2028.

Cornish is refurbishing shafts, dewatering the flooded underground workings and building processing facilities on-site to return Europe's last primary tin mine to operation.

Some notable advancements in the past few months include surface civil works at the Roskear shaft having been completed, the winder house being under construction, a new workshop and stores facility nearing completion and the front-end engineering design (FEED) of the process plant having been completed.

Cornish has advised that construction activities for the north and south winders infrastructure are under way to support planned winder mechanical installation in the second half of the year, while excavation at the preconcentration building is about 50% complete.

The company continues to do dewatering through the fully commissioned 195-level pumpstation.

Another FEED is being advanced for the underground loading, unloading and hoisting infrastructure.

Cornish has already placed orders for long-lead items, such as shaking tables for the process plant and skips and cages for the NCK shaft.

Underground activities are also progressing well, particularly development at the 25-level, which is also being used as a training facility for newly recruited employees.

Key Contracts, Suppliers and Consultants
None stated.

Contact Details for Project Information
Cornish Metals, tel +1 604 200 6664 or email info@cornishmetals.com.