Primary focus
Nevada Copper has completed more than 275,000 meters of drilling in 611 holes on the Pumpkin Hollow property , and activity is progressing at a good pace , according to McKnight . In late July , the city of Yerington , Nev ., amended an existing agreement with Nevada Copper to provide additional water for the Pumpkin Hollow project . The city agreed to provide water to Nevada Copper in 2009 , and the amended agreement brings the total water volumes available from the city and other sources to approximately 4,300 acre-feet , which exceeds the expected net water requirements of the first two phases of the project .
“ This agreement assures that Nevada Copper will have enough water to fully develop the Pumpkin Hollow project ,” Vice President and Senior Project Manager Greg French said in a statement . “ This includes the current planned Phase 1 underground mine and associated 7,500 tons per day processing facility ; and the Phase 1 & 2 combined underground mine and an adjacent open pit mine with a second 60,000 tons per day processing facility .”
Under the project mine plan , Nevada Copper will dry stack its tailings , which allows for recycling of up to 85 percent of the water for re-use in processing . In the conventional slurried tailings pond disposal method , only 30 to 50 percent of the water would be recycled , the company notes .
“ Pumpkin Hollow is a critical project for the economy of Yerington and Mason Valley ,” Mayor George Dini said in a statement . “ The structure of this amendment allows the city of Yerington to assist Nevada Copper in meeting their project needs , yet still provides that the city has sufficient water rights to meet other future needs .”
At this time , Pumpkin Hollow is the only property Nevada Copper is developing , but the company will look elsewhere if the right opportunities come along , McKnight explains . Nevada Copper is focused on developing the property in a responsible manner and helping to build the local economy with this project .
“ Our primary focus is Pumpkin Hollow , and it will remain so for the near future ,” McKnight says . “ We will look at other projects if something comes along , but we ’ re not actively going after anything else right now . It has to be right for our business .” ■
[ Details correct at time of writing ]
www . nevadacopper . com
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