Engagements

Research conducted for BOM of foreign copper operations

To enhance its program known as the Minerals Availability System, the U.S. Bureau of Mines (BOM) selected CRA to be part of a research team that is to assemble geological, engineering, and cost data on the reserves, mines, mills, and post-mill processing facilities of foreign copper operations. Through both literature reviews and site visits, information was developed regarding the over 100 copper smelters, refineries, and other post-mill processing facilities that account for approximately 95 percent of Western-world capacity. CRA examined infrastructure data, variations in reserves based on high-grading potential, restrictions on full capacity utilization, sustaining/ expansion capital requirements for mines and mills over the next ten years, and project-specific financial data. The operating/ capital cost estimation methodology developed for post- mill processing techniques was flexible and generic enough to allow for easy technical modification and data updating by BOM in the future.