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New Afton Mine

Producer in British Columbia, Canada with commodities Copper, Gold, Silver
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Geologic information

Identification information

Deposit ID 10133511
MAS/MILS ID 1220100027
Record type Site
Current site name New Afton Mine
Alternate or previous names Afton/Ajax, Pothook, Kamloops

Geographic coordinates

Point of reference Ore Body
Geographic coordinates: -120.5111, 50.6606 (WGS84)
Elevation 747
Location accuracy 100(meters)
(click for info)

Geographic areas

Country State
Canada British Columbia

Commodities

Commodity Importance
Copper Primary
Gold Secondary
Silver Secondary

Materials information

Materials Type of material
Bornite Ore
Chalcocite Ore
Chalcopyrite Ore
Copper Ore
Cuprite Ore
Digenite Ore
Enargite Ore
Pyrite Ore
Tennantite Ore
Tetrahedrite Ore
Electrum Ore
Covellite Ore
Ankerite Gangue
Calcite Gangue
Fluorite Gangue
Gypsum Gangue
Hematite Gangue
Quartz Gangue
Zeolite Gangue
Epidote Gangue
Magnetite Gangue
Gold Trace

Alteration

  • (Local) Potassic, Propylitic

Mineral occurrence model information

Model code 78
USGS model code 20c
Deposit model name Porphyry Cu-Au
Mark3 model number 34

Host and associated rocks

  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Plutonic Rock > Granitoid > Syenite
    Chronological age 198
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Jurassic
  • Host or associated Host
    Rock type Plutonic Rock > Mafic Intrusive Rock > Diorite
    Chronological age 198
    Stratigraphic age (youngest) Jurassic

Nearby scientific data

Ore Body (1) -120.5111, 50.6606
ListMap

Ore body information

  • Thickness 275M
    Depth to top 10M
    Width 100M
    Length 500M
    Field Value
    MAS Matrix # 1
    MAS Column # 1
    Type of Orebody #1 DISSEMINATED
    Shape of Orebody #1 TABULAR
    Type of Orebody #2 STOCKWORK
    Type of Orebody #3 BRECCIA FILL
    Primary mode of Origin HYDROTHERMAL
    Secondary mode of Origin OXIDATION
    Primary Ore Control FAULTING
    Secondary Ore Control FRACTURING
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. MODERATE
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #1 ADV ARGILLIC
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #2 SERICITIC
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #3 PROPYLITIC
    Minimum Depth to Top 0
    Avg. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 10
    Min. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 0
    Date of Last Modification 810630
  • Thickness 225M
    Depth to top 285M
    Width 100M
    Length 500M
    Field Value
    MAS Matrix # 2
    MAS Column # 1
    Type of Orebody #1 DISSEMINATED
    Shape of Orebody #1 TABULAR
    Type of Orebody #2 STOCKWORK
    Type of Orebody #3 BRECCIA FILL
    Primary mode of Origin HYDROTHERMAL
    Degree of Wallrock Alter. MODERATE
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #1 POTASSIC
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #2 SERICITIC
    Type of Wallrock Alter. #3 PROPYLITIC
    Minimum Depth to Top 275
    Avg. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 10
    Min. Thick. Unconsol. Mat. 10
    Date of Last Modification 810630
  • Area 860HA
    Field Value
    Total Surface Area (HA) 860
    Date of Last Modification 910418

Comments on the ore body information

  • ORE ZONE IS APPROXIMATELY 800 M by 300 M.

Economic information

Economic information about the deposit and operations

Operation type Surface
Development status Producer
Commodity type Metallic
Significant Yes
Discovery year 1898
Mining method Open Pit
Year of first production 1977
Milling method Flotation

Mining district

District name Kamloops Mining Division

Mineral rights holdings

Type of mineral rights Located Claim
Type of mineral rights Patented

Ownership information

  • Type Operator
    Owner Afton Operating Corp.
    Home office Canada
    Year 1990
  • Type Owner
    Owner Teck Corp.
    Interest 100
    Home office Canada
    Year 1991
  • Type Owner-Operator
    Owner New Gold Inc.
    Year 2014
    First year 1999

Comments on the ownership information

  • TECK CORP., 1991 AR, P.13. OPERATOR: AFTON MINES LTD. AFTON IS STARTING BACK UP WITH INCREASE IN COPPER PRICE.

Production statistics

  • Year 1977
    Description 135000 Mt Ore/Yr
  • Year 1978
    Description 0.97% Cu Mill Feed 2620000 Mt Ore/Yr
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 2,620,000mt 1wt-pct
  • Year 1979
    Description 1.07% Cu Mill Feed 2847000 Mt Ore/Yr
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 2,847,000mt 1wt-pct
  • Year 1980
    Description 1.07% Cu Mill Feed 2843000 Mt Ore/Yr
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 2,846,000mt 1wt-pct
  • Year 1981
    Description 0.93% Cu Mill Feed 2553000 Mt Ore/Yr
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 2,553,000mt 1wt-pct
  • Year 1982
    Description 0.58% Cu Mill Feed 1025000 Mt Ore/Yr
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 1,025,000mt 1wt-pct
  • Year 1983
    Description 0.53% Cu Mill Feed 1076000 Mt Ore/Yr
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 1,076,000mt 1wt-pct
  • Year 1984
    Description 0.68% Cu Mill Feed 2639000 Mt Ore/Yr
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 2,639,000mt 1wt-pct
  • Year 1985
    Description 0.98% Cu Mill Feed 2651000 Mt Ore/Yr
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 2,651,000mt 1wt-pct
  • Year 1986
    Description 0.94% Cu Mill Feed 2694000 Mt Ore/Yr
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 2,694,000mt 1wt-pct
  • Year 1987
    Description 0.81% Cu Mill Feed 2902000 Mt Ore/Yr
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 2,902,000mt 1wt-pct
  • Year 1988
    Description 0.32% Cu Mill Feed 3111000 Mt Ore/Yr
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 3,111,000mt 0wt-pct
  • Year 1989
    Description 0.43% Cu Mill Feed 2547000 Mt Ore/Yr
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 2,547,000mt 0wt-pct
  • Year 1990
    Description 0.53% Cu Mill Feed 2655000 Mt Ore/Yr
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 2,655,000mt 1wt-pct
  • Year 1991
    Description 0.48% Cu Mill Feed 2009000 Mt Ore/Yr
    Importance Item Commodity Group Amount recovered Grade Recovery percentage
    Major Copper Copper 2,009,000mt 0wt-pct

Reserves and resources

  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1986
    Demonstrated 9,500,000mt ore
    Indicated 9,500,000mt ore
    Total resources 9,500,000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 1.5 wt-pct Copper Major 1986
    Silver Ag 6.9 g/mt Silver Minor 1986
    Gold Au 1 g/mt Gold Minor 1986
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1988
    Demonstrated 24,700,000mt ore
    Indicated 24,700,000mt ore
    Total resources 24,700,000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 0.46 wt-pct Copper Major 1988
    Gold Au 0.34 g/mt Gold Minor 1988
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1988
    Inferred 9,500,000mt ore
    Total resources 9,500,000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 1.5 wt-pct Copper Major 1988
    Gold Au 1.03 g/mt Gold Minor 1988
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1991
    Demonstrated 14,100,000mt ore
    Indicated 14,100,000mt ore
    Total resources 14,100,000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 0.46 wt-pct Copper Major 1991
  • Type In-situ
    Estimate year 1991
    Demonstrated 14,100,000mt ore
    Indicated 14,100,000mt ore
    Total resources 14,100,000mt ore
    Commodity Subtype Grade units Group Importance Year
    Copper Cu 0.46 wt-pct Copper Major 1991

Comments on the reserve resource information

  • GEO REC 11 PERTAINS TO QUANT MATRIX 1 WHICH IS BASICALLY SUPERGENE ENRICHMENT ZONE GEO REC 21 PERTAINS TO QUANT. MATRIX 2 WHICH IS BASICALLY EXTENSION OF ORE BODY OF MATRIX 1 THAT EXTENDS BELOW 500 AND IS IN THE HYPOGENE ZONE.
  • REMAINING AFTON OPEN PIT RESERVES AS OF 9/87. POTHOOK ZONE. UNDERGROUND RESERVES AT AFTON; NO PLANS TO MINE. TOTAL AFTON RESERVES EXCLUDING UNDERGROUND. OPEN PIT RESERVES AT AJAX. RESERVES IN STOCKPILE AS OF 12/31/86. TOTAL RESERVES USED IN 1987 EVALUATION.
  • 1980 ESTIMATE IS FROM WESTERN MINER, 1981; 1971 ESTIMATE IS FROM MR 21; TOTAL RESERVE ESTIMATE IF FROM D.A. SINGER FILES, U.S. GEOLOGICAL SURVEY.
  • New Gold (http://www.newgold.com/properties/operations/new-afton/default.aspx) claims as of December 31, 2011: Reserves: Gold 1.05 million ounces, Silver 3.09 million ounces, Copper 993 million pounds Resources: Gold 1.67 million ounces, Silver 5.28 million ounces, Copper 1,535 million pounds Note that this is amount of contained metal, not tonnage of ore.

Workings at the site

  • Type of workings Surface
    Name of workings Open Pit
    Area 50HA
    Field Value
    MAS Development Schedule # 1
    Mining Record # 1
    Status of Mining Method ACTUAL
    Mining Method BENCH (BERM)
    Percent Waste Rock 81.8
    Avg. Overburden Thickness 10
    Primary Material Cover SAND, GRAVEL
    Hardness of Ore HARD ROCKS
    Avg. Bench Height (meters) 9
    Max. Pit Slope (degrees) 45
    Capacity 8180
    Capacity Units MT ORE/DAY
    Preprod. Stripping Vol. 159
    Units of Production $/MT ORE
    Operating Days per Year 350
    Operating Shifts per Day 3
    Year of Information 1985

Comments on other economic factors

  • COPPER ORE MINERALS IN FORM OF CHALOCITE, BORNITE, NATIVE COPPER, & CHALCOPYRITE

Comments on development

  • Discovered in 1898, current mine "discovered" in 1971.

Reference information

Links to other databases

Agency Database name Acronym Record ID Notes
U.S. Bureau of Mines Minerals Availability System MAS 1220100027
USGS Mineral Resources Data System MRDS W700035 = 10084822, merged and deleted.

Bibliographic references

  • Deposit

    Masse, Sean, Prince, Ferrin, and Keskimaki, Kurt, 2014, New Afton Mine; The world's newest block cave mine: Mining Engineering, Jan. 2014, v. 66, no. 1, p. 16, 18, 20, 22-26.

  • Production

    BARRATT, DEREK J., SEMI-AUTOGENOUS GRINDING; A COMPARISON WITH THE CONVENTIONAL ROUTE; CIM BULL., NOV., 1979, P. 74-80.

  • Deposit

    NewGold corporate website, accessed Feb. 07, 2014 at http://www.newgold.com/properties/operations/new-afton/project-summary/default.aspx

  • Deposit

    Beren, R.D., Rennie, D.W., and Scott, K.C., 2009, Technical Report on the New Afton Project, British Columbia, Canada: NI 43-101 Report prepared by Scott Wilson Mining for New Gold Inc. Accessed 2/7/2014 at http://www.newgold.com/properties/operations/new-afton/geology-and-mineralization/default.aspx.

  • Geology

    CARR, J.M. AND A.J. REED, AFTON: A SUPERGENE COPPER DEPOSIT; A. SUTHERLAND BROWN, ED., PORPHYRY DEPOSITS OF THE CANADIAN CORDILLERA, CIM SPECIAL VOLUME NO. 15, 1976, P. 376-387.

  • Reserve-Resource

    MINE RESERVES AND CURRENTLY PROMISING DEPOSITS, JAN. 1985, EMR CANADA, MR 209, P. 23.

  • Reserve-Resource

    CANADIAN MINES HANDBOOK, 1989-90, P. 438.

  • Deposit

    RUMMOND, A.D., AND GODWIN, C.I., 1976, HYPOGENE MINERALIZATION- AN EVALUATION OF ALTERATION ZONING: CIM SPECIAL VOLUME 15.

  • Reserve-Resource

    TECK CORP., 1991 ANNUAL REPORT, P. 22, 23.

  • Deposit

    WESTERN MINER, FEBRUARY, 1981.

  • Reserve-Resource

    TECK CORP., 1993 ANNUAL REPORT, P.11.

  • Deposit

    CANADIAN DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY, MINES, AND RESOURCES, 1971, MR 21.

  • Reserve-Resource

    TECK CORP., 1996 ANNUAL REPORT, P.20.

  • Deposit

    BOTTOMLEY, PAMELA. THE AFTON MINES PROJECT FLOWING ALONG SWEET AND GENTLE. WESTERN MINER, JAN. 1978, PP. 9-18.

  • Deposit

    PAZOUR, DONALD A. AFTON, NEW CANADIAN COPPER MINE--ON STREAM. WORLD MINING, APRIL 1978, PP. 42-47.

  • Deposit

    SCHABAS, WILLIAM. AFTON IS NOW SHIPPING ANODE-GRADE COPPER. CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL, JUNE 1978, PP. 42-43.

  • Deposit

    MINING MAGAZINE, B.C. COPPER MINE REACHES TUNE-UP STAGE, OCT., 1977, P.295.

  • Deposit

    GUILD, N.I., AFTON MINES-WATER SUPPLY AND TAILINGS DISPOSAL; WESTERN MINER, JAN., 1978, P.21-24.

  • Deposit

    WESTERN MINER, AFTON MINES PROJECT GEOTECHNICAL ENGINEERING; JAN., 1978, P.27-30.

  • Deposit

    MINING MAGAZINE, AFTON MINE ON STREAM; JAN., 1978, P.14-21.

  • Deposit

    SKILLINGS MINING REVIEW, AFTON STARTS UP ITS COPPER PROJECT IN BRITISH COLUMBIA; AUG. 26, 1978, P.18.

  • Deposit

    WESTERN MINER, AFTON MINES MAKES THE FIRST MOVE TOWARDS A POSSIBLE COPPER REVIVAL IN BC; NOV.,1975, P.16-19.

  • Deposit

    MINING MAGAZINE, BRITISH COLUMBIAN COPPER MINE / SMELTER PROJECT; DEC., 1975, P.419,421.

  • Deposit

    MILLAR, CHESTER, THE AFTON DISCOVERY; WESTERN MINER, FEB., 1973, P.33-36.

  • Deposit

    ANDERSON, JOHN M., AFTON MINES: ANOTHER BIG B.C. COPPER NEARS PRODUCTION; CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL, JUNE, 1977, P.42-47.

  • Deposit

    ROBERTS, R.J., AFTON MINES NOW OFFICIALLY IN PRODUCTION; NORTHERN MINER, MAY 4, 1978, P.1,11.

  • Deposit

    ROBERTS, RICHARD J., AFTON PERFORMS WELL IN MINE, MILL, SMELTER; NORTHERN MINER, JUNE 8, 1978, P.20.

  • Deposit

    NORTHERN MINER, TECK COUNTS ON AFTON FOR BETTER DAYS AHEAD; JUNE 8, 1978, P.3.

  • Deposit

    THE NORTHERN MINER MAGAZINE, 5/87, PP. 53-55.

  • Deposit

    REID, G.J., STEWART, D.H., "AFTON-A GEOTECHNICAL POTPOURRI", CIM BULLETIN, 9/88, PP. 77-83.

  • Deposit

    CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL, "COPPER A WINNER TECK'S BASE METAL MINES CONTINUE TO PRODUCE", 6/89, PP. 31, 33, 35, 39.

  • Deposit

    MINING JOURNAL, 11/11/88, P. 377.

  • Deposit

    MINING ENGINEERING, 12/88, P. 1092.

  • Deposit

    ENGINEERING AND MINING JOURNAL, 1/89, P. 127.

  • Deposit

    ENGINEERING AND MINING JOURNAL, 6/88, P. 95.

  • Deposit

    MINING ENGINEERING, 3/89, P. 95.

  • Deposit

    ENGINNERING AND MINING JOURNAL, 4/89, P. 71, 72.

  • Deposit

    INTERNATIONAL MINING, 4/89, P. 68.

  • Deposit

    MINING JOURNAL, 8/30/91, P. 155.

  • Deposit

    CANADIAN MINING JOURNAL, 4/89, P. 60.

  • Deposit

    AMERICAN METAL MARKET, 7/28/94, P. 2.

  • Deposit

    TECK CORPORATION MINING FOR THE FUTURE VOLUME 2, P. 9.

  • Deposit

    MINING JOURNAL, 8/5/94, P.97.

  • Deposit

    MINING MAGAZINE, 9/94, P.168.

General comments

Subject category Comment text
Deposit TOTAL COPPER PRODUCTION THROUGH 1986 HAS BEEN PURCHASED BY TWO U.K. FIRMS--BICC AND DELTA METAL.
General DISCOVERY YEAR: 1898/1971

Reporter information

Type Date Name Affiliation Comment
Reporter 1997-07-16 Porter, Kenneth E. U.S. Bureau of Mines
Editor 2014-02-06 Wilson, Anna B U.S. Geological Survey
Reporter 1988-01-01 Orris, Greta J. U.S. Geological Survey MRDS W700035 = 10084822