Overview
Stage | Construction |
Mine Type | Underground |
Commodities |
|
Mining Method |
- Longitudinal stoping
- Cemented backfill
|
Processing |
- Flotation
- Agitated tank (VAT) leaching
- Pressure oxidation
- Carbon in leach (CIL)
- Carbon adsorption-desorption-recovery (ADR)
- Cyanide (reagent)
|
Mine Life | 8 years (as of Jan 1, 2015) |
The Company’s primary objective is to continue the advancement of its Bradshaw gold deposit 30,000 tonne bulk sample from the primary gold zones in the underground mining area, towards production. To that end, the Company has received all the necessary permits for the advanced exploration at the Bradshaw from the various provincial government ministries. The Company has undertaken the application for a mining permit and continues to consult with the various First Nation communities on obtaining a Resource Development Agreement. |
Latest News | Gowest Gold Provides Operations Update February 24, 2021 |
Summary:
The sulphide enrichment gold deposit model best describes the mineralization of the Bradshaw Deposit.
The sulphide enrichment deposit model is characterized by a dominance of sulphide minerals over quartz veins, and is localized in shear zones adjacent to rheologically differing mafic to ultramafic volcanic rocks of tholeiitic petrochemistry. Mineralization typically comprises native gold associated with disseminated to massive arsenopyrite and vein hosted pyrite and arsenopyrite in silicified chloritic and sericitic schists, within a broad zone of potassium metasomatism and wall rock sulphidation (disseminated pyrrhotite and pyrite). Carbonatization of the wall rocks is a less conspicuous feature than silicification. Pervasive silicification and silicate alteration minerals developed within the shear zone consists of quartz, albite, chlorite, actinolite, tourmaline and amorphous carbon, suggesting a dominance of silicic and potassic alteration.
The Bradshaw Deposit comprises a geological Main Zone and several lesser Hanging Wall Zones. Gold mineralization in the Main Zone occurs primarily within a fractured and brecciated altered horizon previously interpreted as a shear zone in hanging wall basaltic flow rocks at or near the contact with steeply north-dipping (85°) footwall ultramafic rocks to the south.
Within the geological Main Zone, higher-grade gold mineralization is localized along the footwall of the horizon, termed the MZ1 Zone (previously referred to as M1 Zone - Harron, 2006) and occasionally along the hanging wall of the horizon, termed the MZ2 Zone (previously referred to as M2 Zone - Harron, 2006). Both gold mineralized zones appear to rake steeply to the east based on current drill data. Their variation in widths may reflect tectonically controlled shoots or boudinage structures.
Sporadic, anomalous to lower-grade gold mineralization is present between these subzones. Pervasive silicification, minor quartz-ankerite veining, hematite staining and presence of tourmaline generate a recognizable mauve to pinkish-grey hue for the mineralized zone. Total sulphide content of the mineralized horizon varies from 3-30% with occasional 2-5 cm wide bands of massive arsenopyrite and pyrite. Most of the sulphide component in the Main Zone is in the form of seams, bands and clots of sulphides accompanied by zones of heavy disseminations of 5-15% sulphides over 5-10 cm core lengths. The largest concentrations of arsenopyrite correspond to the highest gold concentrations. Visible gold is not a feature of this type of mineralization. Some late stage fracturing and brecciation of the mineralized horizon has caused varying amounts of sulphide remobilization (Roussain, 2004).
Similar mineralization forms multiple structures believed to be subparallel to the strike and dip of the Main Zone and are referred to as hanging wall zones as they are located immediately north of the main zone. They are highly silicified zones accompanied by intense bleaching, brecciation and quartz flooding, tourmaline, 5- 10% pyrite and arsenopyrite. The overprint of silica flooding and white quartz veining makes the hanging wall zones appear different from the Main Zone but the gold is associated with the sulphide component as in the main zone. As in the Main Zone, higher concentrations of arsenopyrite give rise to higher gold values. A total of six such parallel structures (HWZ1 to HWZ6) have been identified in locations and are significant contributors to the total number of ounces of gold contained within the overall Bradshaw Deposit.
To date, the deposit has a drilled strike length in excess of 950 m, trending N070-080°E, and has been tested to a depth in excess of 1,000 m. The horizontal width of the geological Main Zone varies from 2 to 22 metres. The Bradshaw zones are from 1 to up to 15 metres in horizontal width and average 2 to 3 metres. The deposit remains open along strike and at depth.
Overburden depth along the strike length of the deposit ranges from 10 to 16 metres and averages approximately 12 metres deep.
Mining Methods
- Longitudinal stoping
- Cemented backfill
Summary:
The Bradshaw Deposit is comprised of 8 steeply dipping (60-85 degrees) zones with a nominal thickness of 2-3 metres/zone and an overall strike length of 1,000 metres. The various ore zones are intermittent and discontinuous across the deposit, however, have continuity as sub economic mineralized sulphide horizons that can be followed along strike and down dip.
The longitudinal longhole (blasthole) stoping with unconsolidated and cemented crushed rockfill (waste rejects from the sorter) has been selected as the primary mining method. This will allow the level development to occur within the mineral wireframes, and any development connecting the various ore zones (which is below the cut-off grade) will be stockpiled as mixed development material at the entrance of the portal. This material will be later be put through the ore sorter in order to concentrate any potential gold material before sending to the mill.
Sublevels have been designed at 30 metre vertical intervals (floor to floor) compared to 20 metres in order to reduce development costs. On each sublevel, the deposit will be accessed from the centre and developed east and west along strike to a minimum size of 4 metres by 4 metres (allow travel of 6 yds LHDs). In most cases, an overcut and undercut will be developed to mine the deposit, but in some instances, only an undercut will be developed, followed by longhole uppers including inverse raising. Longitudinal mining will retreat from the outer limits back to the centre access point. The typical stope length will be 11 metres but may vary depending on proximity to the ultramafics. (Stope heights are normally 30 metres with some 20 metre and 15 metre uppers).
Processing
- Flotation
- Agitated tank (VAT) leaching
- Pressure oxidation
- Carbon in leach (CIL)
- Carbon adsorption-desorption-recovery (ADR)
- Cyanide (reagent)
Source:
Summary:
The flow-sheet design incorporates the following general stages:
1. Comminution (grinding and regrinding)
2. Sulphide flotation
3. Pressure oxidation
4. Cyanidation and gold refining
5. Cyanide destruction
6. Tailings disposal.
Crushed ore is hauled from mine site to mill by highway trucks of nominal capacities of approximately 34 tonnes each and transferred to a crushed ore storage bin at the plant site. The grinding circuit consists of a ball mill circuit. Ore is ground to a size of approximately 80% passing 75 microns prior to being sent to the flotation circuit.
A regrind mill circuit has been included to reduce the rougher flotation concentrate particle size to approximately 25 microns (P80) in order to improve the sulphide cleaning efficiency.
The flotation circuit consists of rougher and cleaner stages for separating the arsenopyrite and pyrite concentrates. The flotation circuit shown in Figure 17.1 represents the ........

Recoveries & Grades:
Commodity | Parameter | Avg. LOM |
Gold
|
Recovery Rate, %
| 93 |
Gold
|
Head Grade, g/t
| 4.82 |
Projected Production:
Commodity | Units | LOM |
Gold
|
oz
| 284,129 |
Operational Metrics:
Metrics | |
Daily milling capacity
| 900 t of ore * |
Daily ore mining rate
| 675 t * |
Waste tonnes, LOM
| 1,378,283 t * |
Ore tonnes mined, LOM
| 1,787,295 t * |
Total tonnes mined, LOM
| 3,165,578 t * |
* According to 2015 study.
Reserves at June 15, 2015:
Category | Tonnage | Commodity | Grade | Contained Metal |
Probable
|
1,787,295 t
|
Gold
|
4.82 g/t
|
277,101 oz
|
Indicated
|
2,121,866 t
|
Gold
|
6.19 g/t
|
422,059 oz
|
Inferred
|
3,629,097 t
|
Gold
|
6.47 g/t
|
754,553 oz
|
Corporate Filings & Presentations:
- Subscription is required.
News:
News | Date |
Gowest Gold Provides Operations Update
|
February 24, 2021
|
Gowest Gold Closes Second Tranche of Private Placement of Flow-Through Units
|
December 23, 2020
|
Gowest Gold Announces Private Placement of Flow-Through Units
|
December 15, 2020
|
Gowest Gold: First Bradshaw Gold Ore Being Processed
|
December 9, 2020
|
Gowest Gold: Receives Mining Permit for Full Production, Commissions Ore-Sorter and Agrees to Mill Processing Schedule
|
October 28, 2020
|
Gowest Gold: Advancing Final Steps Towards Processing and Production
|
September 16, 2020
|
Gowest Gold Enters Loan Agreement
|
June 30, 2020
|
Gowest Gold: Latest Drilling Continues to Intercept Gold Mineralization Beyond Identified Bradshaw Deposit
|
June 1, 2020
|
Gowest Gold enters loan agreement
|
April 6, 2020
|
Gowest Gold Closes Second Tranche of Private Placement
|
January 31, 2020
|
PGB Timmins Holdings Delivers Default Notice and Terminates Pre-Paid Forward Gold Purchase Agreement
|
August 9, 2019
|
Gowest Announces Latest Drill Results at Bradshaw
|
June 27, 2019
|
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