Red Chris
PropertiesRed Chris
Email 'Red Chris' item to a friendShow printable version of 'Red Chris' item in a New Window

Red Chris, acquired by Imperial in 2007, is located 80 kilometres south of Dease Lake, and 18 kilometres southeast of Iskut, along Highway #37 in the Tahltan traditional territory of northwest British Columbia.

The Red Chris copper-gold deposit is approximately 1.8 km long and up to 1,000 metres wide with two main areas; the East Zone and the Main Zone. Drilling indicates this deposit is still open for expansion both laterally and vertically, and the adjacent Gully and Far West are two of the exploration targets that may also host significant near-surface copper-gold mineralization.

The 2007 deep drilling program was successful in revealing the potential for high grades beneath the current pit design. Exploration tested the vertical continuity of mineralization in the East and Main Zones with encouraging results from six deep holes. The mineralized intersection in hole RC07-335, the longest in the Company's history, graded 1.01% copper, 1.26 g/t gold and 3.92 g/t silver over 1024.1 metres, and bottomed in strong mineralization. The mineralization in RC07-335, drilled in the core of the East Zone, is continuous from bedrock surface and extends 679 vertical metres below the currently designed open pit. In general, the horizontal area of the high grade mineralization in the East Zone and the gold to copper ratio of the East Zone both appear to increase with depth.

The project has approval to proceed with exploration and geotechnical work under an exploration permit. Construction of trail access, to end reliance on helicopters, is underway and expected to be completed in 2008. The technical work program will be initiated once the trail is completed.

A 2005 feasibility study by AMEC, based on the Main and East Zones, and utilizing a 30,000 tonne per day process plant, indicated a 25 year mine life with the known mineable reserves. The large open pit copper/gold porphyry project has approximately 276 million tonnes of mineable reserves grading 0.349% copper and 0.266 g/t gold. Approximately 1.85 billion pounds of copper and 1.2 million ounces of gold are projected to be contained in concentrate grading 27% copper and approximately 12 grams per tonne of gold. The feasibility study indicated robust economics with assumed copper price of US$1.10/lb and gold price at US$400 per ounce. The Red Chris property has a number of exploration targets which may extend the mine life.

The development of the Red Chris project into a mine is dependant upon a number of factors, including the construction of a power line to service the northwest portion of British Columbia.

The AMEC feasibility study had been completed with the assumption that the power supply would be available at Tatogga, near Iskut. The 23 km 138 kV transmission line along the approved access road alignment would be installed from Tatogga to supply the mine. The power supply grid is presently only available to Meziadin Junction. In October 2007 the Provincial Government announced it would proceed with the Northwest Transmission Line. Subsequently in November 2007, the Provincial Government stated the Northwest Transmission Line would require review in light of the Teck Cominco/NovaGold announcement to place the Galore Creek project on hold.


  • Red Chris Technical Report volume I in PDF Format (10.2 Mb).
  • Red Chris Technical Report volume II in PDF Format (1.7 Mb).  
  • Adnet Communications Inc.