The Pyhäsalmi mine in Finland is one of the deepest mines in Europe at 1,444 meters deep, and has been operating for over 50 years. It is nearing the end of its life but expects to mine an additional 7 million tons of ore over the next 5 years. The mine produces significant amounts of copper and zinc and is a major contributor to the local economy but plans are being made for after mining operations cease.

1. Pyhäsalmi Mine Oy
www.first-quantum.com
bringing ore to the surface

2. [ Issue 85 ] BE Weekly2
to the surface
The Pyhäsalmi mine is one of the deepest and
oldest mines in Europe and has been producing vast
amounts of copper and zinc for over 50 years.
As Managing Director, Kimmo Luukkonen
explains, even as it approaches the end of its
life the mine has much still to give
Pyhäsalmi Mine Oy
Bringing ore
words by Will Daynes research by Abi Abagun

3. ocated in the town of Pyhäjärvi
in the south of Oulu province, in
central Finland, the Pyhäsalmi mine
is an underground copper and zinc mine,
owned by Canadian mining corporation First
Quantum Minerals.
With a depth measuring 1,444 metres, or
4,738 feet, it is the deepest metal mine in
Europe and among the continents oldest.
It origins date back to 1958, when a local
farmer came across gossan ore during a well
construction. A sample of this ore was soon
delivered to Outokumpu Corporation, which,
following analysis of the sample ordered
a more thorough geological survey to be
conducted on the area. Said survey revealed
a rich volcanogenic massive sulphide (VMS)
deposit rich in copper and zinc, and come
1959 the decision was taken to open up a new
mine at the site of the ore discovery.
The Pyhäsalmi mine opened on 1 March
1962. For the first five years it existed as an
open cast pit, before underground mining
operations commenced in 1967. Outokumpu
L
View of the Pyhäsalmi Mine Oy
from the east
Pyhäsalmi Mine Oy
successfully mined,” states Managing Director,
Kimmo Luukkonen. “Based on the most up to
date information available we estimated that we
have approximately five years of mine life ahead
of us which will take our mining operations into
2019. During this time we anticipate an additional
seven million tonnes of ore will be mined, taking
the recovered ore from the deposit to around
60 million tonnes in total.”
Pyhäsalmi Mine Oy, a fully owned subsidiary
of First Quantum Minerals, charged with
operating the mine, today uses non-entry,
was responsible for designing an underground
development plan for the mine and in 2001
completed the construction of a 1,450 metre
deep automated hoisting shaft. A year later
the mine was acquired by Inmet Mining, who
continued forward with the underground
development plan. Fast forward to 2013 and
the company found itself being acquired by
First Quantum Minerals as part of its purchase
of the Inmet Mining group.
“Throughout the history of operations here
more than 50 million tonnes of ore has been

4. Mill control room
Pyhäsalmi Mine Oy
new techniques and tools to get the most
from the mine, an approach which extends to
every area of operation. For instance, years
ago the mine employed what was the first
Sandvik cable bolter. Today we continue to
strengthen our partnership with suppliers and
contractors like Sandvik in order to retain our
leading position in areas such as automated
production drilling and automated loading.”
During 2013, the mine was responsible
for producing 14,900 tonnes of copper at an
average grade of 1.1 percent, and 21,700 tonnes
of zinc at an average grade of 1.9 percent. “Our
Nordkalk and Pyhäsalmi Mine have co-operated for a
number of decades. Nordkalk provides Pyhäsalmi with
special quicklime, matched to the requirements of
existing equipment.
Lime is used in:
• underground mine filling • ore dressing to adjust pH
• water treatment to neutralize and reduce metal content
Nordkalk is the leading producer of high quality
limestone-based products in Northern Europe.
The products are used in the metals and mining,
paper, and building materials industries as well
as in environmental care and agriculture.
www.nordkalk.com
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“Throughout the history of operations here more than
50 million tonnes of ore has been successfully mined”
figures for last year were very much in line with
what we would consider normal for the mine,”
Luukkonen says. “Annual tonnage figures have
remained fairly stable for the better part of
decade now, averaging some 1.4 million tonnes
in total per year. Of course, when it comes down
to it, you can only mine what you have in front
of you, however our processes and methods
of operating have always been strong and we
feel this is reflected in our results.”
In the 52 years that the mine has been in
operation it has been has a massive impact
on the region in which it operates, an impact
bulk open-stope mining methods in a primary-
secondary sequence. On average, stope size
varies from 50,000 tonnes for narrow primary
stopes to over 100,000 tonnes for wider
secondary stopes. Meanwhile, milling at the
mine involves crushing, three-stage grinding,
conventional flotation using three separate
circuits, and water removal to produce copper,
zinc and pyrite concentrates.
“Looking back over the history of the mine
one can clearly see that it is a development
that has always prospered from the use of the
latest technologies, and best practices and
processes,” Luukkonen continues. “For its part,
Outokumpu has always been recognised for
employing cutting-edge technologies, many
of which originated from its own in-house
research and development division, which
was a rare thing to have during the 1970s and
80s. What we have done since taking over
operations at the mine is continue to utilise

5. Pyhäsalmi Mine Oy
mines in Europe, but also one of the only
ones to possess access ramps that all
vehicles can use to reach the very bottom
of the shaft,” Luukkonen explains.
The unique size of the asset and its logistical
strengths has already seen it earmarked as the
potential base for a number of exciting future
ventures. These include being a candidate for
future pan-European particle physics research
projects. Another potential future use of the
mine could be to support pumped-storage
hydroelectricity projects.
“While talk of what the future may hold
for the mine site is interesting, it is equally
as important to consider the future of our
skilled, experienced and dedicated work
force,” Luukkonen enthuses. “They are the
individuals who have contributed most to
the success of the mine and as such we are
hard at work developing a retention plan.
Although we have no doubt that there
will be no shortage of opportunities offer
driven by the fact that when it comes to
the town of Pyhäjärvi’s tax income alone,
the mine is responsible for contributing one
third through the payment of corporate
taxes and other associated costs. Meanwhile,
it is estimated that another third of the
municipality’s tax income comes as a result
of indirect effects of the mine. This of course
poses a question as to how the municipality
will adapt when operations at the Pyhäsalmi
mine does come to an end.
to our employees once the mine ceases
operations, we want to do all we can to
recognise their contributions and retain
their skills and knowledge.”
Turning back to today and the mine’s
outlook for 2014 looks bright, what with
production levels of copper, zinc and pyrite
all looking to remain in line with previous
years. “We are certainly on the right path
when it comes to this year,” Luukkonen
concludes. “Our job from here on out is
utilise the time we have left here to get the
most out of an incredible asset which has
already delivered so much.”
Understandably, the end of the mine’s
life is an event that the operators are well
prepared for, perhaps all the more so as the
mine faced a similar scenario in the mid-
1990s when, faced with only a few years of
operations remaining, a new ore body below
one kilometre in depth was discovered.
“When it comes to the end of mining
operations here, we have to consider the fact
that what we have here is an extraordinary
asset which is not only among the deepest
Mine surveyor
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Pyhäsalmi Mine Oy
“Our job from here on out is to utilise
the time we have left here to get the
most out of an incredible asset which
has already delivered so much”
1,444 metres
The depth of the
Pyhäsalmi mine
14,900 tonnes
Of copper produced
by the mine
in 2013
21,700 tonnes
Of zinc produced
by the mine
in 2013
1.1%
Average grade
of copper
1.9%
Average grade
of zinc
6 years
Current estimated
mine life
210
Number of
employees
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manual

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Pyhäsalmi Mine Oy