The Çöpler Gold Mine which located in the İliç district of Erzincan is operated by Alacer Gold and is currently an open‐pit, heap‐leach operation that is producing gold from oxide ore. The Çöpler orebody also contains refractory sulfide ore that requires a different processing solution than heap‐leaching to extract the gold. A Definitive Feasibility Study was completed and determined that the treatment of the sulfide ore via pressure oxidation provided the best economic return. In May 2016 construction commenced on the Çöpler Sulfide Expansion Project, and at the end of 2017, the Sulfide Project was over 70% complete, under budget and on schedule for first gold production in the third quarter of 2018, providing the next stage of growth for Alacer.
According to the company update;
