PRODUCTION at PEND OREILLE/Teck Cominco's New Mine Adds High Grade to the Mix

摘要

EARLY THIS YEAR, TECK COMINCO KICKED OFF THE RAMP-UP OF THEIR PEND OREILLE OPERATION, LOCATED IN THE EXTREME NORTHEAST CORNER OF WASHINGTON STATE ALONG THE EAST BANK OF THE PEND OREILLE RIVER IN METALINE FALLS. ABOUT 16 KM FROM THE BORDER INTO BRITISH COLUMBIA, PEND OREILLE IS WELL SITUATED TO FEED TECK COMINCO'S TRAIL SMELTER, 80 KM AWAY. BY LATE JANUARY, THE OPERATION WAS RUNNING AT 25 percent CAPACITY, WITH PLANS TO REACH FULL CAPACITY IN THE SECOND QUARTER. An underground zinc mine, Pend Oreille was an existing operation that was shutdown in 1977, until it was acquired in 1995 by Teck Cominco. The operation will produce high-grade and dean zinc/lead concentrate, providing an incremental high-quality feed source for the Trail smelter. It will allow the smelter to blend concentrates, and get more through the system.