New Afton Copper Mine

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The original Afton Mine was a copper, gold, and silver producing open pit mine for nearly 20 years. During that time, Afton produced more than 232,000 tonnes of copper, 85 tonnes of silver, and 14 tonnes of gold for Teck Resources! The mine site has been reclaimed since the mine ceased operation in 1997.

Mineral exploration resumed on the property in 2004 by New Gold Inc, which will reopen the mine (now called "New Afton") as an underground operation.

New Afton is expected to commence production in the second half of 2012. New Afton will be an underground mine, beneath the old Afton pit, and will produce an annual estimated average of 75 million pounds of copper, 214 thousand ounces of silver and 85,000 ounces of gold over a 12 year mine life. The mine entrance, surface buildings and new mill have been built at the west end of the property.

The original concentrator mill just east of Afton pit has been sold to Abacus Minerals, which is exploring ground between the old pits and has also found new orebodies nearby. These two companies are now coordinating their efforts; New Gold will operate any new underground mines while Abacus (now in a joint venture with KGHM Polska Miedz) will operate any open pits. For now, Abacus main focus is on the Ajax project 10 km to the east.