Trevali Buying New Mining Fleet for its Caribou Mine


Trevali will rely on Sandvik Mining to maintain underground mining equipment.
Trevali Mining is transitioning to an owner- operation at its underground Caribou zinc mine in northeastern New Brunswick, Canada, and is supporting the transition by purchasing a new underground mining fleet. The company has committed to an approximately C$20 million investment through a partnership with Sandvik Mining for supply and maintenance of a full fleet of mining equipment for the mine. Trevali will operate and manage all aspects of the underground mining operation, while Sandvik will be responsible for fleet maintenance.

During 2017, equipment that will be procured and commissioned on-site include two model DD 321 two-boom drill jumbos; five model LH 514 8-yd LHDs; seven model TH 540 40-metric-ton (mt) haul trucks; one model DL 421 long-hole production drill; and one model DS 421 cable bolter/backup long-hole drill.

Additional equipment being sourced for the mine includes a grader, a new underground light-vehicle fleet, and a combination of new and used underground ancillary equipment. “Trevali’s new investment demonstrates our ongoing commitment to the future of the Caribou mine and operations in the Bathurst region of New Brunswick,” said Trevali President and CEO Dr. Mark Cruise. “The efficiencies realized through this initiative will solidify our position as a major employer and economic contributor in the province and form a pathway for the company’s long-term, multicycle vision for the Bathurst mining camp.”

Trevali also owns the Halfmile and Stratmat base-metal deposits in the Bathurst camp, which are currently undergoing a preliminary economic assessment reviewing their potential development. Current Caribou operations include the underground mine, a 3,000-mt/d mill, a flotation recovery plant, metallurgical and geochemical laboratories, and a tailings treatment facility, all located approximately 50-kilometers (km) west of Bathurst, New Brunswick.

The Caribou mine reached commercial production in July 2016. Future production of metal in concentrates is forecast to average 93 million pounds per year (lb/y) of zinc, 32.5 million lb/y of lead, 3.1 million lb/y of copper, 730,000 oz/y of silver, and 1,500 oz/y of gold. Mine life is currently planned at 6.3 years.

As featured in Womp 2017 Vol 03 - www.womp-int.com