The Point Rousse Complex is host to orogenic style gold mineralization. Mineralization comprises both vein-hosted and altered-wall rock or replacement styles of mineralization and both exhibit features common to orogenic gold deposits. The mineralization is typically structurally controlled and developed within subsidiary deformation zones, such as the Scrape Trust Fault, to major regional structures, like the Baie Verte – Brompton Line fault. Gold mineralization is intimately associated with disseminated and massive pyrite within the host rock indicating that iron rich rocks are an important precursor to mineralization. Alteration within mafic volcanic and gabbroic rocks can be is characterized by albitization and carbonitization. Iron and titanium rich lithologies associated with the Scrape Thrust are typical host rocks.

The Point Rousse gold mineralization exhibits relatively narrow, but distinctive alteration haloes dominated by Fe-carbonate, albite, sericite, chlorite and leucoxene (Plate 9). The ore mineralogy is relatively simple and is generally comprised of non-refractory gold either as free gold or as coatings on, or along fractures/grain boundaries in pyrite. Silver and base metals can be present in minor amounts and the deposits typically exhibit only trace arsenic.

The geological setting of the Pine Cove Mine area is characterized by greenschist facies mafic volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks, clastic sedimentary rocks and minor iron formation; part of the Snooks Arm Group. In the immediate mine area the rocks can be informally divided into five distinct units that dip gently to the north. The units from north to south are: 1) green-grey to yellowish green pyroxene crystal tuff breccia, lapilli tuff, green mudstone and siltstone; 2) maroon to purple, green and grey argillite, minor tuff and rare iron formation; 3) a sequence of fine-grained, quartz-granule bearing greywacke and siltstone; 4) locally magnetic generally dark green mafic tuffs and flows; and 5) fine grained mafic intrusive rocks. The mafic intrusive rocks have a sill-like structural disposition dipping parallel to major lithological contacts and the main S1/S2 foliation. The mafic intrusive rocks mainly cut the mafic volcanic rocks of unit 4. gold mineralization is hosted by variably Unit 4 and 5 mafic volcanic and intrusive rocks.

Mineralization is associated with a broad alteration envelope characterized by broad zones of very finegrained calcite and chlorite. Proximal to mineralization fine wispy orange-brown leucoxene is common in intrusive rocks and is either chaotically oriented or rotated and flattened parallel to the foliation. Where alteration is most intense, and gold mineralization occurs, iron-carbonate is pervasive, variably developed, brecciated, quartz-veins and quartz-carbonate veins are observed as well as albite. Pyrite is part of the alteration assemblage and intimately associated with gold mineralization.

Pyrite occurs marginal to the quartz veins, disseminated within wall rock fragments incorporated in the veins, and as minor disseminated pyrite within the quartz veins. The gold concentrations are directly related to pyrite content. The gold occurs as small disseminated grains (ranging from 1 to 50 microns) within pyrite, quartz veins and as thin stringers.

Mining at the Pine Cove Mine concluded in October of 2020 with a total of 154,540 ounces produced.

Pine Cove Stockpile
At the Pine Cove Mine site the 2021 Pine Cove Stockpile is currently stored on top of the South Mill Waste Dump. The 2021 Pine Cove Stockpile was derived from marginal grade (0.5 to 0.7 g/t gold cut-off) material mined from the Pine Cove open pit from 2014 to 2019 when mining ceased at the Pine Cove Mine. The 2021 Pine Cove Stockpile are used to store lower grade material that was considered marginally economic at the time it was mined. The material has been periodically milled since the 2020 to supplement throughput of higher-grade ore to the mill.

Pine Cove Mine
The Pine Cove Mine is an open pit mine consisting of traditional drill and blast operations followed by and transport of ore by haul trucks to the crusher run-of-mine pad and transport of waste to the waste rock piles. On average, between 8,000 and 10,000 tonnes per day (“tpd”) of waste and ore is mined.

The mine is being developed as a 350 m wide open pit that will have a maximum depth of 154 m by end of the mine life.

The main access ramps are designed at a 10% gradient to accommodate rear wheel drive haulage trucks. The 15 m wide ramps are designed to facilitate two-way truck traffic at all points. Final pit bottom access ramps are designed at a gradient of –10% and a width of 10 m to accommodate one-way traffic between the 4,940 m elevation (mine datum, Geodetic + 5000 m) and the pit bottom. The last pit bench at 4910 m elevation (mine datum) will be excavated primarily with a back-hoe due to the steep temporary access ramp on broken ore and minimal working space.

Ore is hauled via a single 15 m wide ramp (10% grade) to the ore storage area adjacent to the mill. Oversize material is broken using an excavator-mounted buster. The broken ore is fed into the primary crusher using a dedicated loader. There are several waste rock dumps adjacent to the open pit.

There are two low-grade ore stockpiles. One is located on the slope to the southwest of the mill site while the second on is built on the top of the South Mill Dump. The low-grade ore stockpiles are used to store lower grade ore that is considered marginally economic to mill at the time it is mined. The material will be milled if or when economic or processing conditions improve or if there is a disruption in the supply of higher grade ore to the mill.

The main Waste Rock Pile is located southeast of the plant site. Access to the dump is provided via the haulage road that runs south of the mill.

Ore is fed to the crushing plant via front end loader, where it first enters a jaw crusher. After crushing, a conveyor takes the ore to a screen deck, where the fine material is separated. Oversize ore is recirculated through a cone crusher until it reaches the desired top size of 3/8 inches.

Ore from the crushed stockpile is then fed to the primary ball mill via conveyor belt, and typically averages 1.0 to 2.0 g/t gold. The ball mill is charged with 2 inch and 3 inch balls, and grinds material to a K80 of 150 micron. Material from the ball mill is pumped through a cyclone, where liberated material is fed into the flotation circuit via an overflow. Any coarse material is returned to the ball mill.

The Pine Cove Mill operates as a grind/flotation circuit followed by leaching. Comminution is via a two-stage crushing plant followed by a 10 feet by 14 feet primary ball mill, which processes an average of 1,350 tpd of ore. Cyclone overflow feeds the flotation circuit, with three column cells for roughing, one scavenger/staged reactor cell, and one cleaner cell. The concentrator has a flotation circuit which produces a gold-pyrite concentrate that advances to the leach circuit. Mass concentration is typically 1.5 to 2.0%, with a recovery of 92 to 93%. Flotation concentrate is thickened in a 4.5 metre diameter thickener and reground in a 5.5 feet by 10 feet diameter ball mill down to a P80 of 20 microns. Leaching is conducted in a series of four 75 m3, mechanically-agitated leach tanks. Two drum filters and a Merrill-Crowe circuit are used for gold recovery from the pregnant solution. Cyanide destruction of leach tailings is achieved through the Inco SO2 process. The mill currently ach ........