The standard orogenic gold model characterizes the majority of gold deposits within the Abitibi belt. However, several examples of late mineralization are disseminated and associated with alkaline intrusions (Robert, 2001), thus differing from the standard orogenic gold model. Syenite-associated disseminated gold deposits in the Abitibi greenstone belt consist of disseminated sulphide zones with variably developed quartz stockworks, which are intimately associated with Timiskaming-age, monzonitic to syenitic porphyry intrusions (Robert, 2001). Like quartz-carbonate vein deposits, all known syenite-associated disseminated gold deposits in the southern Abitibi belt occur along a major fault. As a result of their distribution along major faults, these deposits commonly occur at or near boundaries between contrasting lithological domains. Examples of these deposits are Young-Davidson, Matachewan Consolidated, Ross, Holt-McDermott, and Lightening in Ontario; and Beattie, Douay, Canadian Malartic, East Malartic, and Barnat Sladen in Québec.

The Timiskaming-type sedimentary rocks occur along restricted segments of a major fault zones, where they are preserved as synclinal keels (Muller et al., 1991). The syenite intrusions form small stocks, commonly elongated subparallel to the overall structural trend and generally surrounded by numerous satellite dykes (Robert, 2001). Although some intrusive phases are equigranular, most are porphyritic, with K-feldspar phenocrysts in a fine-grained to aphanitic groundmass.

Syenite-associated disseminated gold deposits consist of zones of disseminated sulphides with variably developed stockworks in intensely altered wallrocks (Robert, 2001). They have sharp diffuse limits, defined by a decrease in sulphide content, gold grades, and intensity of stockwork fracturing. Owing to the abundance of microveinlet stockworking and fracturing, many orebodies take on a breccia appearance. The morphology of the deposits ranges from overall tabular to pipe-like, although many have rather irregular outlines. Most mineralized zones are steeply dipping or steeply plunging, but examples of moderately to shallowly dipping orebodies, discordant to lithological units, are also known (Robert, 2001).

The total sulphide mineral content of the orebodies is typically less than 10% by volume, and commonly a few percent (Robert, 2001). Disseminated sulphides are fine- to very fine grained and consist dominantly of pyrite, with significant arsenopyrite in a few deposits. Associated stockworks consist of millimeter- to centimeter-thick veinlets of grey to cherty quartz, with subordinate amounts of carbonate (Fe-dolomite and calcite), albite, and pyrite. In addition to pyrite and arsenopyrite, ore related metallic minerals include minor to trace amounts of chalcopyrite and hematite. Telluride minerals, molybdenite, and magnetite are common associates of this type of mineralization, whereas galena, tennantite, and bismuthinite occur at few deposits. Accordingly, orebodies are generally enriched in Cu, As, Te, with common, but variable, enrichments in Pb, o, W, Zn, and locally Sb. The gold:silver ratios of the ores generally range from about 1:1 to 5:1.

Zones of hydrothermal alteration are spatially coincident with zones of disseminated sulphide minerals and veinlet stockworks, and most intense alteration corresponds in a general way to economic mineralization (Robert, 2001). Carbonatization and albitization are significant alteration types at nearly all deposits; K-feldspar alteration and sericitization are also present in several deposits.

According to Bevan (2011), the “main” type of gold mineralization in the Duparquet deposit generally occurs within shears or fracture zones along or within the adjacent intrusive syenitic masses, and is associated with finely disseminated pyrite and minor arsenopyrite replacement. Sulphide content is generally low (0.5 to 4%), although it can be up to 10% in cases. Higher gold grades appear to be related to the finer grained sulphides (Bevan, 2011).

Mineralization at the Central Duparquet is hosted by the CDFZ (Central Duparquet Fault Zone), and is of a similar nature a the South and North zones (Bevan, 2011).

Mining of the Duparquet deposit has been designed as an open pit with a planned production of 3,650,000 tonnes per year (3.65M tpy) or 10,000 tonnes per day (tpd).

The life-of-mine (LOM) for the Duparquet Pit was based on supplying the mill with 3,650,000 tonnes of ore per year. Initially, 4.1 Mt of tailings would be reserved to supplement the mill when necessary, but it was later decided to process the tailings at a rate of 750,000 tonnes per year right from the start in order to clean the tailings area to make room for the waste stockpile #2 for the west pit.

The LOM for the Duparquet Pit will be spread over 11 years, preceded by a 4-year pre production period.

Also, the existing pit contains approximately 5.7 Mm3 of water. At the start of the projectProject, it is estimated that 2 Mm3 need to be dewatered, and that it will take approximately six (6) months.

The mining schedule will require the extraction of 39,363,029 tonnes of ore and 291,213,881 tonnes of waste rock, resulting in a LOM strip ratio of 8.26 to 1. The overburden consists of 23,398,919 tonnes. Taking into account the overburden, the LOM strip ratio is 8.93 to 1. The stripping ratio (waste to ore) will not necessarily be constant.

The drilling pattern has been selected in order to control blast induced vibrations and airblast overpressures in the Town of Duparquet. The spacing and burden for the Project were estimated at 6.5 m and 6 m respectively. Percussion drills with 215 mm bit size will be used in ore and waste. A penetration rate of 22 m/hr was used when estimating equipment requirements. A total of four (4) drills will be required to achieve the production target.

Pre-split blasting will be done in order to maximize stable bench face and inter-ramp angles along the final walls. The pre-split consists of a row of closely-spaced holes along the final excavation limit. One percussion drill with 140 mm bit size will be used for pre-shear and holes will be drilled at an interval of 1.5 m.

An explosives supplier will provide the mine with explosives. In this study, it was assumed that the explosives will be truck to Duparquet from the supplier plant located in Malartic.

The plant is designed to operate 24 h/d, 365 d/yr, and process 3.65 Mt of mineralized material (dry) annually, at a plant availability of 92%. The nominal daily throughput will be 10,000 tonnes of dry material.

The ROM ore will be trucked by mine haulage trucks to the crushing plant, dumped into the crusher feed hopper, and conveyed by apron feeder into the primary jaw crusher. The crusher product will then be conveyed by two conveyors to the crushed ore stockpile. The live capacity of the stockpile will be 10,000 tonnes with a total capacity around 36,000 tonnes. Apron feeders will then draw off the material at 452.9 t/h from below the stockpile and conveyors will deliver the material to the SAG mill feed chute.

The SAG mill is driven by a 5,670 kW (7,200 hp) motor. The SAG mill product will be discharged to the SAG mill discharge screen; the coarse material (screen oversize) will be conveyed to the pebble crusher driven by a 315 kW motor and crushed pebbles will ........