Summary:Bunker Hill Mine completes its first production stope blast in Idaho. The underground mining milestone advances brownfield mine redevelopment toward commercial base‑metal production by late 2026....
Underground mine working ready for first production stope blast for Bunker Hill Mine redevelopment project
Bunker Hill Mining has completed the first production stope blast at its flagship Bunker Hill Mine in Kellogg, Idaho, a landmark operational milestone that moves the historic underground mine from site redevelopment into formal ore production mode. This underground mining breakthrough comes after years of underground rehabilitation, infrastructure upgrade and safety‑focused site preparation, putting the project firmly on track for commercial production by the end of 2026.
Located in the world‑famous Coeur d’Alene Silver Valley mining district, Bunker Hill Mine is one of North America’s iconic base‑metal assets, historically producing large volumes of silver, lead and zinc over more than nine decades of operation before its prior closure. The latest stope blast signals that modernised underground mining operations can unlock remaining mineral resources within the brownfield site. The operator targets a steady operating capacity of 1,800 tonnes per day once full ramp‑up is achieved.
Project location of Bunker Hill Mine in Coeur d’Alene mineral district, northwest Idaho USA]
Bunker Hill Mining applies transverse longhole stoping as its core underground mining method, adopting primary‑secondary ore extraction sequences for hard‑rock ore bodies. After ore removal, paste backfill made from mill tailings mixed with cement will fill void stopes to maintain underground rock stability and enable safe secondary stope extraction. This backfill system is a critical part of the modern mine design for this restarted brownfield operation.
| Key Project Milestones | Status |
|---|---|
| Underground mine rehabilitation & infrastructure upgrade | Completed |
| First production stope blast | Achieved |
| Initial concentrate production | Completed June 2026 |
| First concentrate smelter shipment | Completed July 2026 |
| Target commercial production | End‑2026 (1,800 tpd nameplate) |
The project also marks a strong safety record: the site has recorded four consecutive years without lost‑time safety incidents, demonstrating the operator’s priority for safe underground mining execution during mine restart. Restarting a legacy brownfield mine brings unique engineering challenges, including refurbishing old underground workings, upgrading ventilation, power and dewatering systems, and validating geotechnical conditions before production blasting can take place.
For North American mineral supply chains, the revival of Bunker Hill Mine adds new domestic sources for silver, lead and zinc. Many industrial consumers in North America are seeking stable regional base‑metal supply, and advanced brownfield mine redevelopment projects can shorten development timelines compared with green‑field exploration projects. Even so, the project still faces execution risks including geotechnical variability, processing plant ramp‑up performance and metal price volatility.
Moving forward, Bunker Hill Mining will advance sequential stope development, scale ore extraction and optimise milling performance as it works to hit commercial production thresholds. Management notes that commercial production will be recognised once operations sustain approximately 65 percent of the 1,800‑tonne‑per‑day designed rate over 90 consecutive days.
The first stope blast at Bunker Hill Mine represents a defining turning point for this historic Idaho underground mining asset. After extensive redevelopment work, the brownfield mine transitions toward sustained underground mining and concentrate output. If ramp‑up proceeds as planned, the project will deliver meaningful new base‑metal supply for North America and serve as a practical case study for restarting legacy hard‑rock mining operations across the United States.
