Neil Richardson
Director of Exploration – Manitoba Business Unit, Hudbay Minerals Inc.

777 Deposit – From Discovery to Closure

In late 1993, Hudson Bay Exploration and Development Co. Ltd (Hudbay Minerals Inc.) collared a hole to test the down plunge extensions of Callinan mine.  Hole 4Q-64 was drilled to 1,682 metres and intercepted two zones of VMS mineralization.  Borehole Electromagnetic survey revealed that more conductive material was just off-hole.

The deposit was later name after the discovery hole CX-777, which intersected several zones of massive sulphide mineralization.  The largest zone was 22.52 metres in core length grading 5.36g/t gold, 55.99g/t silver, 2.89% copper and 7.40% zinc.  With this discover, several years of aggressive underground and surface drilling ensued.

The 777 was in production in 1999, via Callinan workings and was in commercial production in 2004 upon completion of the shaft.  Final ore was brought to surface in July 2022.

 

Neil is a professional geoscientist registered in Manitoba and Ontario and is currently the Director of Exploration for Hudbay Minerals Inc, Manitoba Business Unit.  Neil has over 34 years experience in the industry, including such roles as Chief Operating Officer, Director of Exploration, Exploration Manager and geologist positions for mid-tier and junior mining companies.

Neil has experience in volcanogenic massive sulphides (VMS), orogenic gold and nickel exploration within Canada and abroad.  He has spent +25 years exploring for VMS deposits in northern Manitoba and most recently was part of the team that discovered 1901 deposit in Snow Lake, MB.