Bunker Hill Resumes Concentrate Production After 45-Year Hiatus
Event summary
- Bunker Hill Mining Corp. produced its first concentrate from the revived Bunker Hill Mine in Idaho's Silver Valley, marking a 45-year resumption of operations.
- The mine previously produced 165 Moz of silver and 4.5 Mt of base metals before closing in 1981 due to environmental regulations.
- Commercial production (defined as 90 days at >65% of 1,800tpd throughput) is expected by the end of 2026.
- The company has completed 16 exploration drill holes totaling 5,960 feet, with plans for an additional 28 holes targeting high-grade silver-lead mineralization.
The big picture
Bunker Hill's restart comes amid growing U.S. focus on securing domestic mineral supply chains, particularly for silver and base metals critical to electrification technologies. The project's success hinges on balancing production efficiency with environmental compliance in a historically contested mining region. With over 200 local employees, the operation also serves as an economic bellwether for Idaho's Silver Valley.
What we're watching
- Production Ramp-Up
- Whether Bunker Hill can achieve stable operations at >65% of 1,800tpd capacity by year-end and meet its 2027-2028 guidance.
- Exploration Success
- The pace at which high-grade silver-lead mineralization from the Cate-8 Vein can be incorporated into the mine plan to expand reserves.
- Market Dynamics
- How U.S. demand for domestically sourced critical metals will impact offtake agreements and pricing power.