Bunker Hill Mining Corp. is continuing on the path towards advancing its rapid restart program with the successful commissioning of its water pre-treatment plant at the Bunker Hill Mine in Idaho.
In a news release, Bunker Hill Mining Corp. (BNKR:CSE; BHLL:OTC) reported the successful commissioning of its water pre-treatment plant, designed to significantly improve the quality of mine water discharge from the Bunker Hill mine." The firm noted that the implementation of the processing system provides for the sustainable restart of mining operations that employ modern zero-footprint techniques to improve the surrounding environment.
Bunker Hill Mining's CEO Sam Ash remarked, "Managing our mine water discharge is an essential part of a strategy designed to rapidly re-start the Bunker Hill mine as a low cost, modern and sustainable operation. Together with our high-grade silver exploration program and delineation of our maiden NI 43-101 compliant resource, the successful commissioning of our pre-treatment plant marks another key milestone in achieving this goal and highlights our new team's technical capabilities. We remain on track to deliver our PEA by early Q2/21."
"I joined Bunker Hill last year because of the unique opportunity to re-start an iconic silver mine as a modern, sustainable operation in ways that improve the quality of the local environment. Commissioning of the water pre-treatment plant is an early demonstration of our commitment to delivering immediate and positive outcomes for the local communities living in Shoshone and Kootenai counties," stated Bradley Barnett, V.P. of Sustainability at Bunker Hill Mining.
The company noted that it kicked off its water management program in September 2020 with the objective of evaluating the status and health of the mine's water system and instituting measures to immediately improve the water quality of effluent leaving the mine. The firm noted that the water that is discharged from the mine is piped for "treatment at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Central Treatment Plant (CTP)." The firm explained that the recently commissioned pre-treatment system significantly reduces the amount of treatment required at the CTP, which reduces associated costs. The company stated that its new pre-treatment system is now successfully removing over 70% of the metals from water before it leaves the mine and that it believes there is potential to improve that percentage further.
Based upon historical research provided by the Environmental Protection Agency, the company stated that it prepared a study of the Bunker Hill Mine's water system for the purposes of identifying areas where sulphuric acid mine drainage (AMD) is generated in the largest and highest concentrations and to gain an understanding on the route that the AMD flows through and out of the mine on its path towards the CTP.
The company was able to find out through this investigation that "approximately 85% of the metal load in the mine effluent is contained in only 1% of the water flow, allowing Bunker Hill to isolate and treat these intense AMD zones in ways that further reduce the downstream treatment requirements and costs at the CTP."
The company stated that the results obtained from testing performed on mine effluent discharged from the Kellogg Tunnel on February 2, 2021, point to a significant reduction in metal content versus prior periods. The firm stated that lab test carried out by environmental testing laboratory Silver Valley Analytical Inc., which is based in Kellogg, Idaho, showed a 71% reduction in zinc after just a few days of operation and similarly levels of dissolved cadmium decreased by 72% from the previous month.
Bunker Hill commented that as a routine part of its environmental management plans it will continue to work closely with the EPA and other stakeholders in monitoring the mine's internal water system and discharged water quality from the Kellogg Tunnel.
Read what other experts are saying about:
Bunker Hill Mining Corp.[NLINSERT]Disclosure:
1) Stephen Hytha compiled this article for Streetwise Reports LLC and provides services to Streetwise Reports as an independent contractor. He or members of his household own securities of the following companies mentioned in the article: None. He or members of his household are paid by the following companies mentioned in this article: None.
2) The following companies mentioned in this article are billboard sponsors of Streetwise Reports: Bunker Hill Mining. Click here for important disclosures about sponsor fees.
3) Comments and opinions expressed are those of the specific experts and not of Streetwise Reports or its officers. The information provided above is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security.
4) The article does not constitute investment advice. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her individual financial professional and any action a reader takes as a result of information presented here is his or her own responsibility. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports' terms of use and full legal disclaimer. This article is not a solicitation for investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company mentioned on Streetwise Reports.
5) From time to time, Streetwise Reports LLC and its directors, officers, employees or members of their families, as well as persons interviewed for articles and interviews on the site, may have a long or short position in securities mentioned. Directors, officers, employees or members of their immediate families are prohibited from making purchases and/or sales of those securities in the open market or otherwise from the time of the decision to publish an article until three business days after the publication of the article. The foregoing prohibition does not apply to articles that in substance only restate previously published company releases.