Representatives from Huldra Silver broke ground on a soon-to-be silver mill at the Craigmont Mine property on Tuesday afternoon.
Members of the community gathered on site to mark the occasion while company CEO Ryan Sharp spoke of his plans to mill silver mined at the Treasure Mountain Mine. He also mentioned plans to explore the option of redeveloping and rehabilitating the copper mine.
“We’re hoping to have the mill up and running by early February 2012,” said Sharp. “I’m happy with the way I’ve been welcomed into the community.”
The Treasure Mountain Mine, located about 65 minutes from Merritt near Britton Creek, has been 100 per cent owned by Huldra Silver since 1980. Mining operations revealed a rich silver vein on the claims and in 1986 400 tonnes of ore were shipped directly to smelters. However, Sharp said that Treasure Mountain is not an ideal place for a mill and after the price of silver collapsed the company sat dormant for 17 years.
When Sharp took over the company he decided the mine was still viable and decided that the best alternative was to build a mill for raw ore at the Craigmont property, which the company acquired in May 2011.
While Huldra now owns Craigmont Holdings Ltd., magnetite operations will continue at the site until completion and Sharp said the company will operate as landowners and partners.
“We are pleased that this property will continue to make an economic contribution to the community for decades to come,” said Dick Herman of Craigmont Holdings on Tuesday.
Other members of the local community also welcomed the Huldra team into the community and commented on the economic benefit mining operations would bring to the region.
“Mining has been a part of our economic history,” said Fraser-Nicola MLA Harry Lali. “We are not strangers to mining and we welcome Huldra to the community.”
Area M Director Randy Murray said that mining has been a part of the fabric of life in the Nicola Valley and said that the new operations would add jobs and vibrancy to the community. Mayor Susan Roline also spoke of the jobs that the mill project would bring.
“We’re proud to have Huldra investing locally and creating jobs in the Valley,” said Roline.
Besides providing an economic boost to the community, Sharp said that both the mill and mine have been designed to have zero environmental impact.
“There will be no ground water or surface water contamination and we’re going to have zero discharge,” said Sharp. “In addition, most of our power usage will be late at night so there should be no impact on the environment or the community.”
Milling equipment should be completely on site within the next three weeks and construction should be complete by early February.
