Due to low and challenging market conditions, Nyrstar has been forced to suspend funding for mine upgrades at the Myra Falls zinc and copper mine.
Operations at the mine were originally postponed in April, and with the halt of funding, 88 workers have been laid off. A Nyrstar spokesperson says there are only about 56 people left on the site. At full capacity, the site employs around 356 workers.
When the mine is operating, about 500,000 tonnes of poly-metallic ore, consisting of zinc, copper, lead, gold and silver, are produced annually.
Ore is concentrated in an on-site mill and shipped from Campbell River to smelters outside the area.
