FNX Mining boasts record quarter results.FNX Mining FNX Mining Company Inc. TSX: FNX is a Toronto, Ontario based company that produces and explores for nickel, copper, platinum, palladium, gold and cobalt in the Sudbury Basin, Ontario, Canada. Company Inc. reported the highest operating and financial results in the company's history for its third quarter ending Nov. 3. With $53 million earned this quarter alone, this marks the company's single highest quarterly revenue, complemented by its lowest cash operating cost of $100 per ton and its record total cash operating margins of $36.4 million. [ILLUSTRATION OMITTED] "We're quite pleased, obviously," says Terry MacGibbon, president and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. . "We're very fortunate to be producing in these very strong, robust commodity markets." In 2006's third quarter alone, First Nickel's McCreedy West Mine mined and shipped a total of 165,306 tons of ore, resulting in the sale of 2.3 million pounds of nickel, 2.6 million pounds of copper and 7,935 ounces of total precious metals Precious Metals Valuable metals such as gold, iridium, palladium, platinum, and silver. Notes: Investing in precious metals can be done either by purchasing the physical asset, or by purchasing futures contracts for the particular metal. . This represents a jump over the same period last year, where 111,795 tons of ore were shipped, with a quarterly revenue of $18 million--quite a boost from this quarter's $53 million, says MacGibbon. The greater number of produced tonnage not only provides more material for market profits, but also helps to increase the operational efficiencies. "We're very concerned that we keep our costs under control and keep our efficiencies up," he says. "That way when the prices come down, our profits may not be as high as they are now, but we want to do the best we can. When prices are good, industry has the tendency to get a little slack, and we're trying to fight that." MacGibbon hopes to continue FNX's winning ways by doing its best to maintain McCreedy West's production of 2,000 tons per day, and by moving two more of its properties into full mine production in the next two years. Following the production of the company's Levack nickel deposits in 2007, and the Podolsky footwall foot·wall n. Geology 1. The mass of rock underlying a mineral deposit in a mine. 2. The underlying block of a fault having an inclined fault plane. deposit in 2008, the company is expected to have an annualized annualized Of or relating to a variable that has been mathematically converted to a yearly rate. Inflation and interest rates are generally annualized since it is on this basis that these two variables are ordinarily stated and compared. production rate of 1.4 million tons of ore per year. To meet these targets, the company has spent up to $15 million on rehabilitation rehabilitation: see physical therapy. efforts at the Levack Mine holdings. With the assistance of Dynatec Corp., FNX is overseeing shaft hoisting, hoist hoist: see winch. modernizations as well as systems for the handling loading and crushing of ore. This will allow the site to begin lifting pre-production ore in December, with incremental Additional or increased growth, bulk, quantity, number, or value; enlarged. Incremental cost is additional or increased cost of an item or service apart from its actual cost. increases continuing through until the middle of the year. MacGibbon expects to produce 1,500 tons per day This will allow FNX to increase its 2007 production by 250,000 tons, a number that is expected to jump to 400,000 tons in 2008. Construction of ore and waste handling system has also been initiated on the Levack Mine 2650 level to make way for production by 2009. In September, drilling revealed that although the deposit's strike length remains nearly 800 feet, its dip length has been expanded from 1,000 feet to 1,600 feet, and remains open. "We don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. what the size of the deposit will be yet, but for us, it's significant," he says. "It's about halfway between Xstrata Nickel's Craig Mine, where we have drills underground, and our Levack shaft, and we'll put that in production as fast as possible, because of the very good location between two existing mines. It's also a sign that the size is of interest and that it's going take more work to decide what it is and how economic it will be." Advanced exploration programs continue at FNX's Podolsky property on Sudbury's north range with the sinking of the 2600 level shaft. Dynatec is helping FNX to install the loading pocket and shaft changeover. Projects are also underway to prepare the surface for ventilation and secondary mine exits. www.fiixmining.com By NICK STEWART Northern Ontario Business Northern Ontario Business is a Canadian magazine, which publishes monthly in Greater Sudbury, Ontario. The magazine covers business news and issues in Northern Ontario. |
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