Bunker Hill Mining has completed the first production stope blast at its fully owned mine in Idaho, US, moving the site closer to commercial production by the end of 2026.
The transition of the Bunker Hill Mine from redevelopment and preparation to ongoing underground production follows extensive rehabilitation.
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The initial stope blast at the Bunker Hill Mine follows the installation of updated infrastructure designed to support the restart of mining activities.
Bunker Hill Mining is moving forward with further stope development and increased production efforts, aiming to reach an underground mining rate of 1,800t per day.
The company is using transverse longhole stoping, a method that involves a primary-secondary sequence to extract ore.
Once mined, the empty stopes are filled using a paste backfill system that mixes processed mill tailings from the site’s recently launched filter press with cement.
This mixture is then transported underground and used to fill the excavated areas.
According to the company, this process maintains the stability of the mine, supports the safe removal of secondary stopes and enables operations to proceed without the need for a surface tailings facility.
The approach is intended to limit the mine’s environmental footprint in accordance with stated corporate objectives.
Alongside operational progress, the company reported that its workforce has completed four consecutive years without a lost-time incident and one full year without a recordable safety incident at the mine.
The company’s approach to safety focuses on identifying risks early, addressing hazards and making ongoing improvements. These efforts are supported by established protocols and processes that reflect current industry standards in mining operations.
Looking ahead, Bunker Hill Mining intends to progressively increase underground mining rates and optimise processing circuits to achieve the production levels outlined in its mine plan.
Bunker Hill Mining president and CEO Sam Ash said: “These are significant achievements for Bunker Hill and, most importantly, for our people.
“Four years without a lost-time incident demonstrates the strength of our team and their commitment to operating safely.”
In June 2026, the company produced its first concentrate at the Bunker Hill Mine.
