July 9, 2010
Vancouver, BC - Taseko Mines Limited (TSX: TKO; NYSE Amex: TGB) (“Taseko” or the “Company”) reports unaudited second quarter production results for the Gibraltar Mine.
For the second quarter of 2010, Gibraltar produced 20.1 million pounds of copper and 218 thousand pounds of molybdenum.
A quarter over quarter production comparison is below:
|
Q4 2009 |
Q1 2010 |
Q2 2010 |
---|---|---|---|
Mill Throughput (millions, tons) | 3.2 | 3.6 | 3.6 |
Copper Recoveries (%) | 84.1 | 89.8 | 88.7 |
Copper Production (millions, lbs) | 17.4 | 23.2 | 20.1 |
The Gibraltar concentrator continued to perform very well during the quarter with all circuits stabilized and operating at budgeted levels. Metal production for the period was slightly lower than the first quarter as a result of decreased copper head grade, a typical fluctuation as mining advances through the pit. The lower grade ore also had a minor effect on copper recoveries. Grade and recoveries are expected to trend higher for the third quarter.
Construction continues on the remaining modernization projects. During the second quarter the in-pit primary crusher and conveyor system was commissioned. This new system will reduce the mine’s haul truck requirement by two trucks as a result of a decrease in ore haul distance of two kilometres (a 40% shorter haul). Additionally, the original primary crusher will act as a backup to the new system providing reliability for planned and unplanned shutdowns of the in-pit crusher.
The final concentrator upgrades are expected to be completed during the third quarter and construction of the new SAG mill feed system will commence shortly.
Russell Hallbauer, President and CEO of Taseko, commented, “Copper production for the first half of 2010 was 38% higher than the second half of 2009. This is a reflection of the operational improvements which have been made at Gibraltar. Anticipating a further increase to mill throughput in the coming months, we are in the process of purchasing additional haul trucks for the mine, complementing the arrival of a new 495HR Bucyrus shovel. These new trucks will replace older haul trucks, reducing operating and maintenance costs.”
Note: Gibraltar is a Joint Venture owned by Taseko Mines Limited (75%) and Cariboo Copper Corp. (25%). All figures are reported on a 100% basis.
For further information on Taseko, please see the Company’s website www.tasekomines.com or contact:
Brian Bergot, Investor Relations
778-373-4545
toll free 1-800-667-2114
Russell Hallbauer
President and CEO
No regulatory authority has approved or disapproved of the information contained in this news release.
This document contains “forward-looking statements” that were based on Taseko’s expectations, estimates and projections as of the dates as of which those statements were made. Generally, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as “outlook”, “anticipate”, “project”, “target”, “believe”, “estimate”, “expect”, “intend”, “should” and similar expressions.
Forward-looking statements are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the Company’s actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These included but are not limited to:
For further information on Taseko, investors should review the Company’s annual Form 40-F filing with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission www.sec.gov and home jurisdiction filings that are available at www.sedar.com.