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“ There is huge potential if we can get the capital investment right . Worldwide there are very few western companies who have an asset base like this , so it is a unique opportunity for us to look at something which has been underexplored over the past decade .”

The study should be completed by the end of Q1 2015 , with Lundin keen to get construction underway which would involve deep bottlenecking , improving shaft capacity and doubling the zinc plant above ground . The company is also looking to expand tailings management storage and advanced water treatment facilities .

Despite the upcoming focus on boosting zinc production , copper will continue to provide 50 percent or more of revenues from this asset , home to 2,000 of Lundin ’ s 3,000 global workforce .

Into the Americas Lundin Mining ’ s newest Michigan asset fits perfectly into Conibear ’ s plan to find new deposits of the highest quality .

Having acquired the nickel-copper site from Rio Tinto in July 2013 for $ 315 million , a further $ 400 million has brought the project to operational status ahead of schedule with a view to it becoming the company ’ s eventual biggest earner .

Conibear said : “ This is an extremely high-grade deposit , and nickel has taken a big step forward recently as a highly valuable commodity so we are hitting the cycle at an ideal time .

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