Geomechanics.io

  • Free Tools
Sign UpLog In

    Geomechanics.io

    Geomechanics, Streamlined.

    © 2026 Geomechanics.io. All rights reserved.

    Geomechanics.io

    CMRR-ioGEODB-ioHYDROGEO-ioQCDB-ioFree Tools & CalculatorsBlogLatest Industry News

    Industries

    MiningConstructionTunnelling

    Company

    Terms of UsePrivacy PolicyLinkedIn
    Projects
    Contract Award

    Tahltan backing for Eskay Creek: social licence and capex notes for mine planners

    December 17, 2025|

    Reviewed by Joe Ashwell

    Tahltan backing for Eskay Creek: social licence and capex notes for mine planners

    First reported on MINING.com

    30 Second Briefing

    Tahltan Nation members have voted to support an impact benefit agreement with Skeena Resources for the Eskay Creek gold-silver project in British Columbia’s Golden Triangle, covering revenue sharing, Tahltan employment and contracting, training programmes, and funding for a Tahltan elders’ facility. The Tahltan Central Government board will consider formal project consent in January, clearing a key social-licence hurdle for restarting the former Barrick underground mine as an open-pit operation. Backed by a US$750 million Orion Resource Partners package, Eskay Creek is planned to start in 2027, with a 12-year life, 39.8 Mt of reserves at 2.6 g/t Au and 68.7 g/t Ag, and forecast output of 320,000 oz AuEq per year.

    Technical Brief

    • 2023 feasibility study defines 39.8 Mt proven and probable reserves at 2.6 g/t Au, 68.7 g/t Ag.
    • Contained metal inventory totals 4.6 Moz gold and 88 Moz silver in reserves.
    • Measured and indicated resources stand at 50.1 Mt grading 2.6 g/t Au and 63 g/t Ag.
    • M&I resources contain 4.1 Moz gold and 101.4 Moz silver, above the reserve base.
    • First five operating years are forecast to average 455,000 oz AuEq per annum.
    • Historical underground operation (1994–2008) produced ~3.3 Moz Au and 160 Moz Ag.
    • Skeena acquired Eskay Creek from Barrick in 2020 and has since intensified exploration and studies.
    • Project economics are underpinned by a US$750 million financing package from Orion Resource Partners.

    Our Take

    Within our 331 Mining stories, BC’s Golden Triangle features repeatedly as a high-capex, multi-decade gold district, so Tahltan Central Government support at Eskay Creek is likely to be watched closely as a benchmark for Indigenous engagement on other regional projects.

    Measured and indicated gold resources of 4.1 million oz. at Eskay Creek, on top of 3.3 million oz. of historic production, signal that Skeena Resources is effectively repositioning a mature camp into a long-life open-pit style asset rather than a short-cycle restart.

    The 12-year mine life to around 2027+ and sizeable silver inventory (over 100 million oz. in resources) mean Eskay Creek could function as a meaningful silver as well as gold contributor in Canada, which is notable given most of our recent gold-tagged coverage focuses on single-metal optimisation rather than dual-commodity value.

    Geotechnical Software for Modern Teams

    Centralise site data, logs, and lab results with GEODB-io, CMRR-io, and HYDROGEO-io.

    No credit card required.

    • Save and export unlimited calculations
    • Advanced data visualisation
    • Generate professional PDF reports
    • Cloud storage for all your projects

    Prepared by collating external sources, AI-assisted tools, and Geomechanics.io’s proprietary mining database, then reviewed for technical accuracy & edited by our geotechnical team.

    Related Articles

    Mining
    about 19 hours ago

    CITIC HIC semi-mobile crusher at Duobaoshan: design and throughput notes for mine planners

    A PSZ3000-B semi-mobile gyratory crushing station, independently designed and built by CITIC Heavy Industries in Luoyang, has completed no-load and load commissioning at Zijin Mining’s Phase II expansion of the Duobaoshan copper-molybdenum mine in Heilongjiang, with all performance indicators meeting design standards. The semi-mobile unit is configured as a primary crusher station for the expanded open pit, allowing truck-fed in-pit crushing with conveyor transfer to downstream processing. For mine planners and plant engineers, the successful commissioning confirms Chinese-built large semi-mobile gyratory technology as a viable option for high-throughput greenfield and brownfield expansions.

    Mining
    about 19 hours ago

    LEEA GLAD procurement survey: compliance and lifecycle insights for mine teams

    LEEA has launched a procurement-focused survey to feed into a new white paper scheduled for release on Global Lifting Awareness Day (GLAD) on 2 July 2026, with details hosted on the updated campaign site globalliftingawarenessday.com. Targeted at stakeholders who specify or purchase cranes, hoists, slings and other lifting accessories, the initiative centres on the theme “Not all lifting equipment is…”, aiming to capture how compliance, whole‑life cost and inspection regimes are currently weighted in buying decisions. Mining owners, EPCMs and contractors can use the findings to benchmark procurement practices against industry expectations and tightening safety standards.

    Mining
    about 19 hours ago

    Hitachi EH5000 100,000‑hour milestone at Lumwana: capex and fleet life notes for planners

    Three 296 t class Hitachi EH5000 rigid dump trucks at Barrick’s Lumwana copper mine in Zambia have each passed 100,000 operating hours, an unusually high lifecycle for ultra-class haulage equipment in hard-rock copper operations. The milestone, marked at a joint Barrick–Hitachi recognition ceremony, points to effective component rebuild strategies, condition-based maintenance and strong dealer support for the EH5000 fleet. For mine planners and maintenance teams, it signals potential to extend truck life beyond typical replacement cycles, with implications for capex timing and fleet renewal strategies.

    Related Industries & Products

    Mining

    Geotechnical software solutions for mining operations including CMRR analysis, hydrogeological testing, and data management.

    Tunnelling

    Specialised solutions for tunnelling projects including grout mix design, hydrogeological analysis, and quality control.

    CMRR-io

    Streamline coal mine roof stability assessments with our cloud-based CMRR software featuring automated calculations, multi-scenario analysis, and collaborative workflows.

    HYDROGEO-io

    Comprehensive hydrogeological testing platform for managing, analysing, and reporting on packer tests, lugeon values, and hydraulic conductivity assessments.

    GEODB-io

    Centralised geotechnical data management solution for storing, accessing, and analysing all your site investigation and material testing data.

    AllGeotechnicalMiningInfrastructureMaterialsHazardsEnvironmentalSoftwarePolicy