Turquoise Hill output falls on lower grades

Rio Tinto subsidiary Turquoise Hill Resources has reported a 23% drop in concentrate production at the Oyu Tolgoi copper/gold mine, in Mongolia, as it processed lower grades from phases 6 and early 4A of the openpit, as well as stockpile material, during the three months ended March. Concentrate production slumped to 176 000 t in the period, in line with expectations, offset by the concentrator recording record throughput on the back of benefit from earlier productivity improvements, Turquoise Hill CEO Jeff Tygesen stated on Wednesday.