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.

Gold-bearing mineralization within the Duparquet deposit (including the Beattie and Donchester mines, as well as the Central Duparquet deposit) is associated with carbonate, chlorite, fuchsite, and sericite alteration as a product of hydrothermal fluid injection within sheared and brecciated sections of the syenite porphyries. Silicification of fractures and chert-calcite-rich accumulations along fractures accompanied by pyrite-arsenopyrite host rock replacement have been observed within the mineralized zones. The chert is dark grey due to its potassic-rich composition and the hematite and tourmaline content of the hydrothermal fluids.

Gold mineralization at the Beattie mine was historically associated with silicified and brecciated zones containing a low percentage of very fine-grained pyrite and arsenopyrite (Goutier and Lacroix, 1992). 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). Historically, gold production at the Beattie mine was accompanied by extraction of arsenic trioxide and silver as by-products. The “breccia” type of mineralized material is found within the metavolcanic rocks (lavas and tuffs) and consists of well-mineralized, siliceous, brecciated, grey-coloured and bleached zones. The porphyry mineralized material type consists of fine-grained and strongly silicified mineralized zones hosted by the porphyry intrusives. The latter generally has lower gold grades than other types of mineralized zones within the deposit (Bevan, 2011).

The typical mineral assemblage found within mineralized material zones of all types is characterized by the presence of feldspar, quartz, sulphides (pyrite and arsenopyrite), sericite, chlorite and other secondary minerals. Mill tests suggest that some 35% of the gold is in a free state, with the remainder associated with sulphides. According to Bevan (2011), three (3) phases of gold enrichment or remobilization can be interpreted from cross-cutting relationships of gold- bearing veins. Bevan (2011) also states that higher gold contents are found along crosscutting faults, along the nose of folds and within the lath porphyry dyke intrusion as a consequence of remobilization processes.

At the Beattie mine, the main mineralized lens is hosted by a shear zone (BFZ) at the north contact of the syenite intrusion. In this report, the main zone is referred to as the North Zone. A second gold-bearing lens, also hosted by a shear zone (DFZ) but occurring at the south contact of the syenite body, is also known at the Beattie mine and is referred to as the South Zone herein. Gold mineralization at the Donchester mine was higher grade and associated with an E-W shear zone cutting across some volcanic rocks and syenitic dykes (Goutier and Lacroix, 1992). This zone has been interpreted herein as the east extension of the South Zone. At both the Beattie and Donchester mines, the South Zone can be subdivided into several mineralized “lenses”, modelled herein as ten (10) individual sub-zones. Six (6) other major striking mineralized zones occurring within the Beattie-Donchester area have been interpreted by InnovExplo for the purpose of the current Mineral Resource Estimate.

Mineralization at the Central Duparquet is hosted by the CDFZ, and is of a similar nature as the South and North zones (Bevan, 2011). At Central Duparquet, three (3) mineralized zones have been interpreted by InnovExplo.

The Dumico property corresponds to the eastern extension of the Central Duparquet property. At Dumico, five (5) mineralized zones have been interpreted by InnovExplo. Three (3) of these mineralized zones are striking E-W and are interpreted as the “natural” extension of the CD Zones found at Central Duparquet. The two (2) other zones are striking NW-SE occur on the eastern portion of the Dumico property. Based on the current interpretation, the two (2) latter zones are considered to be associated to a subsidiary structure sub-parallel to the regional DPMFZ.

A total of thirty-four (34) secondary mineralized zones have been interpreted within the previously defined “inter-zone” mineralized envelope. The interpretation of these secondary mineralized zones, which are in majority striking SW-NE, is based on field observations as well as grade continuity throughout the samples point set. These SW-NE striking mineralized zones are interpreted to be hosted by subsidiary structures associated with the BFZ and DFZ.

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 project, 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 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 be recirculated to the SAG mill. The screen undersize will gravity-feed the pump box and mix with the ball mill discharge. The secondary grinding circuit consists of one 6,410 kW (8,600 hp) ball mill which will operate in closed circuit with one hydrocyclone cluster. The hydrocyclone underflow will return into the ball mill while the overflow with a P80 of 100 µm will gravity-feed to the trash screen prior to transfer to the conditioner tank of the flotation circuit.

Based on the previous testwork results, two processing options were selected for the recovery of the gold from the Duparquet Project; the Pressure Oxidation option (“POX option”) and the Concentrate option. While gold doré would be produced on site with the POX Option, the Concentrate option would produce a sulphide concentrate product for sale.

The Concentrate processing option uses a jaw crusher followed, by one 5,670 kW (7,200 hp) SAG Mill and of a secondary grinding stage using a 6,410 kW (8,600 hp) ball mills operating in a closed loop, coupled with a flotation circuit including rougher cells, 1st cleaner cells, 2nd cleaner cells, and a 1.119 kW (1,500 hp) regrinding ball mill of the rougher concentrate, as well as cyanidation of the flotation tails with CIL recovery of the gold. The gold will be recovered from the carbon by elution, followed by electrowinning and doré smelting. The flotation concentrate would be sold for further processing.

Concentrator Pla ........