The Björkdal Property, containing both the Björkdal mine and the Norrberget deposit.

Deposit Type
Björkdal
The predominant source of ore at Björkdal is contained in a package of anastomosing, sheeted quartzveins. This epigenetic vein network appears to be structurally controlled and consists of more than one thousand sub-parallel quartz veins that typically strike 030° to 090° from true-north. Such strong structural-geological influences over geometry of any quartz vein hosted mineralisation clearly suggests a strong spatial and temporal relationship with orogenic/tectonic processes (i.e., mesothermal/greenstone gold systems). In contrast, the mineral associations with gold mineralisation, and the large alteration signature of the Björkdal area, could alternatively suggest that host depositional mechanisms are responsible for the mineralisation at Björkdal as there are some similarities with skarn and/or porphyry systems.

A much smaller, yet prolific source of ore at Björkdal is observed in strongly altered lenses of skarn. Skarnification occurs commonly within the Mine, especially in the limestone/marble unit where it occurs as discreet patches and lenses, these lenses typically measure 200 m to 400 m along strike, 100 m to 200 m down dip and are usually no more than 10 m thick. However, similar calc-silicate alteration has taken place in areas where local shearing has affected the volcanoclastic host rock. The altered rock texture appears sh ........

The current environmental permit limits the total Björkdal production capacity to 1.70 Mtpa. Prior to 2020, production was split between the underground mine and the open pit. In 2019, mining of the open pit was stopped for economic reasons and this mill feed was replaced with ore from the low grade stockpile and an increase in underground production.

The remaining open pit material remains economically viable, however, the low grade stockpile realizes more value, so open pit mining has been deferred for several years until the stockpile has been run-down and open pit production is required to offset reducing underground production.

As presently envisaged in the LOM plan, open pit pre-stripping and production will be restarted in 2026 to supplement the decrease in production from the underground mine.

Björkdal
Open Pit
Mine Design
During 2022, potential for expanding the current open pit at Björkdal was re-evaluated. Benches will be 5 m high, and are taken in groups of two to four with an 8 m to 10 m wide berm every 10 m to 20 m. A 72° to 85° bench face angle (BFA) is used to give an overall wall slope of 42° to 52°.

Mining Method
The open pit has currently been halted and is planned to be restarted in 2026, however, this could be delayed further in the event of additional underground reserves being identified. The planned mining method is standard truck and shovel mining, as was done historically. Details will b ........

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