Overview
Stage | Preliminary Economic Assessment |
Mine Type | Open Pit |
Commodities |
|
Mining Method |
|
Processing |
- Gravity separation
- Flotation
- Concentrate leach
- Cyanide (reagent)
|
Source:
p. 18, 19
Company | Interest | Ownership |
McEwen Mining Inc.
|
100 %
|
Indirect
|
Lexam VG Gold Inc.
|
100 %
|
Direct
|
On April 26, 2017, the Company completed the acquisition of 100% of the issued and outstanding common shares of Lexam by the way of the Arrangement Agreement dated February 13, 2017 and related Plan of Arrangement. The Mineral property interests acquired include the 100% interest of the Buffalo Ankerite, Fuller and Davidson Tisdale deposits and 61% interest in the Paymaster deposit located in Timmins, Ontario. The remaining 39% interest in the Paymaster property is held by Goldcorp Inc., a joint venture partner.
Summary:
The mineralization on the property occurs stratigraphically above what appears to be the contact between the older ultramafic lower formation and the basaltic middle formation of the Tisdale group. A ramp was sunk in the vicinity of what was interpreted to be the hinge of the easterlyplunging Fuller synclinal fold. This geology observed in proximity to this ramp has been the best information available in the immediate area of the Fuller deposit.
In a general south to north direction, the succession of rocks includes talc-chlorite schist (metamorphosed ultramafic rocks), quartz-feldspar porphyry, pillowed amygdaloidal basaltic flows, massive basaltic flows, and a series of alternating units of massive, pillowed and amygdaloidal volcanic rocks.
The porphyry is interpreted to have been intruded prior to folding. Hydrothermally altered volcanic rocks, including a strongly altered unit with more than 50% quartz flooding, green mica and pyrite mineralization, are spatially associated with the porphyry; there are also large folded zones of highly carbonate altered volcanic rocks in contact with the porphyry stocks.
Summary:
The base case operating scenario for the Project includes open pit mining of Measured, Indicated, and Inferred Mineral Resources with direct shipping of mineralization to a toll processing facility for recovery of gold.
The mine design consists of five open pits in two areas. Four of the pits (Buffalo Ankerite South, Buffalo Ankerite North, Paymaster, and Fuller) are located in the “main cluster” approximately five kilometres southeast of Timmins city centre. The main cluster can be defined by a radius of approximately one kilometre. The fifth open pit (Davidson Tisdale) is located approximately nine kilometres to the east-northeast of Timmins city centre (approximately eight kilometres north-northeast of the main cluster).
Open pit development is characterized by relatively high stripping ratios as the primary production target is narrow steeply dipping veins. Maintaining mining selectivity to control dilution and extraction will be paramount, as well as keeping operating conditions safe as the open pits will encounter stope voids from historic underground mining operations. Initial operations will require external waste rock disposal areas, after which, pits may be backfilled.
Processing
- Gravity separation
- Flotation
- Concentrate leach
- Cyanide (reagent)
Source:
Summary:
For the Project, metallurgical testwork was done on the Buffalo Ankerite, Paymaster, Fuller, and Davidson Tisdale Properties and some historic operating data was reviewed by RPA. The results from the historical work were used to estimate the gold recovery, although there is little information about sample location. For purposes of this evaluation, the data from testwork that included gravity concentration and cyanidation of the gravity tailings was used; however, the results from tests that utilized gravity, flotation, and cyanidation of the flotation concentrate were very similar so the results would not change appreciably.
Reserves at May 22, 2013:
Category | OreType | Tonnage | Commodity | Grade | Contained Metal |
Indicated
|
In-Situ (UG)
|
361 k tons
|
Gold
|
0.168 oz/ton
|
61 koz
|
Indicated
|
In-Situ (OP)
|
5,878 k tons
|
Gold
|
0.049 oz/ton
|
290 koz
|
Indicated
|
Total
|
6,239 k tons
|
Gold
|
0.056 oz/ton
|
351 koz
|
Inferred
|
In-Situ (UG)
|
930 k tons
|
Gold
|
0.145 oz/ton
|
135 koz
|
Inferred
|
In-Situ (OP)
|
2,981 k tons
|
Gold
|
0.038 oz/ton
|
112 koz
|
Inferred
|
Total
|
3,911 k tons
|
Gold
|
0.063 oz/ton
|
247 koz
|
Mine Management:
Job Title | Name | Profile | Ref. Date |
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Mar 6, 2019
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