Ore sorting or pre-concentration can increase mill feed grade, which could result in a higher net present value of the project, the company said.

Potential benefits include reduced reducing operating costs, reduced fine tailings volumes, less material sent to the tailings storage facility and reduced power consumption at the grinding circuit. 

Bull River will be developed in phases. A surface stockpile will provide initial feedstock to the upgraded 700-tonne-per-day mill. The ore sorting component could be introduced before the grinding circuit.

Braveheart owns 100% of Bull River, located near Cranbrook.

Last month, the company asked the British Columbia Hydro and Power Authority (BCH) to complete a facilities study (FS) by late January for the site to define connection requirements and establish a project timetable for connecting the mine to an existing 66kV hydroelectric power line adjacent to the project.

An earlier study by the authority concluded that it is feasible to connect the mine's load of 7.5 MVA to the BCH transmission system.

BCH previously scheduled a connection date of June 2021 for the operation.