Imperial Metals Corp. is laying off more than one-third of the workforce at its Huckleberry mine in northwestern British Columbia because of low copper prices. The company said it has suspended pit operations at Huckleberry but will continue milling stockpiled ore.

The decision will affect about 100 of Huckleberry's 260 employees near Houston, B.C., about 300 kilometres northwest of Prince George, B.C.