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 formatio ........

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 ........

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.

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