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Finland

Laiva Mine

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Overview

Mine TypeOpen Pit
StageRestarting
Commodities
  • Gold
  • Silver
Mining Method
  • Truck & Shovel / Loader
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SnapshotThe Lavia Gold Project is comprised of two license areas: Laiva and Oltava. The Laiva area comprises the advanced stage Laiva Gold Mine and satellite exploration projects at Mussuneva and Kaukainen. Oltava is an early-stage exploration property.

Laiva mine has the largest Gold Plant in Europe.

The Mine initially commenced production in January 2012; mining ceased in December 2013. The mill continued to operate, processing low-grade stockpile material until March 2014. The second period of operation was from August 2018, continuing to March 2019 when the operation was put into care and maintenance. Production was restarted for a short period in Nov 2021. Laiva Gold Inc. acquired Laiva Gold from the Administration in 2023.

After restarting in 2024, Laiva Gold Inc. is planning to use its own fleet(previous operators used contractors).

Resuming production is planned in late 2024.

Owners

SourceSource
CompanyInterestOwnership
Laiva Gold Inc. 100 % Indirect
Laiva Gold Inc is a Canadian mining company with its flagship operation, Laiva Mine, based in Finland. The company was formed in early 2023 following its spin out from Pilar Gold Inc.

On July 12, 2024, CastleCap Capital Inc. and Laiva Gold Inc. announce the execution of a non-binding letter of intent dated July 10, 2024. The Parties intend to enter into a definitive agreement in respect of the Proposed Transaction. As will be set out in the Proposed Definitive Agreement, the CastleCap is expected to acquire all of the issued and outstanding common shares of Laiva pursuant to a business combination to be completed under the Business Corporations Act by the CastleCap and Laiva.

Deposit type

  • Orogenic

Summary:

Laiva is classed as an orogenic gold deposit.

Mineralization comprises sheeted quartz-sulphide vein arrays within multiple, sub-parallel, mylonitic shear zone, hosted in metavolcanic and quartz diorite rocks. Mineralization occurs in two main bodies, the North Pit with Eastern Extention in the north, and the South Pit in the south.

At the North Pit, mineralised shear zones can be traced over a strike length of up to 600m, with the mineralized zone (including the Eastern Extention) occurring over an area of 1300 m by 450 m. In the South Pit area, mineralization occurs over an area of 500 m by 400 m. Mineralization has been intercepted at depths of up to 250 m below surface and is open down pit, apart from the western part of the North Pit where mineralization is truncated by the granite pluton. In both the North and South Pits, the mineralized shear zones vary in windth between <1 m to >10 m.

The mineralised shear zones display distinct structural trends in differetn parts of the deposit, with the orientation being dependent on proximity to the Red Shear Zone. West of the Red Shear Zone, mineralised shear zones strike east-northest and dip steeply (78 degrees to 85 degrees) south-southeast. Immediatly east of the Red Shear Zone, mineralised shear zones strike east-northest and dip steeply west- southwest, transitioning to av almost easterly strike wuth southerly, steep dip progressively to the east.

Within the mineralized shear zones, vein density varies between 1 and 29 veins per meter. Mineralized shear zones display sharp contacts with the host rocks and there is no gold grade associated with the narrow selvedges. In general, veins are more closely spaced in the metavolcanic rocks compared to the veins hosted in quartz diorite, and there is a positive correlation between vein density and gold grade. This increased vein density and gold grade in metavolcanic rocks compared to quartz diorite may be attributed to contrasting arheology and/or chemical composition of the host rocks.

Individual veins are typically planar, narrow (2 to 5 mm, rarely 2-5 cm) and display localized pinching and swelling, although the mineralized structure may be continuous over tens of meters.

Quartz veins are composed of very fine-grained, massive, blue-grey quartz with variable, disseminated and blebby, fine- to medium- grained pyrite, arsenopyrite, pyrrhotite, and chalcopyrite. Molybdenite is rarely observed, mainly in the Eastern Extension mineralization.

Gold grade continuity is variable along strike and down dip. Whilst structural continuity and mineralization is continuous along strike and down dip, elevanted grades of >1 g/t gold display a localizedcharacter. Higher grades of >5 g/t gold are relatively common but generally dispersed within a mineralized structure.

Reserves

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Mining Methods

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Comminution

Crushers and Mills

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Processing

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Production

CommodityUnits2018
All production numbers are expressed as metal in doré. ^ Guidance / Forecast.

Operational metrics

Metrics202120192018
Daily processing capacity  ....  Subscribe
Annual processing capacity  ....  Subscribe
Ore tonnes mined  ....  Subscribe179,348 t319,261 t
Waste  ....  Subscribe1,286,137 t1,805,605 t
Total tonnes mined  ....  Subscribe
Tonnes processed  ....  Subscribe179,348 t319,261 t

Production Costs

CommodityUnitsAverage
All-in sustaining costs (AISC) Gold CAD  ....  Subscribe
* According to 2023 study / presentation.

Financials

Units20182017
Revenue M USD 3.8  
After-tax Income M USD -28.7   1.6  

Heavy Mobile Equipment

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Personnel

Mine Management

Job TitleNameEmailProfileRef. Date
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required ........... Subscription required Subscription required Sep 20, 2024

EmployeesYear
...... Subscription required 2013

Aerial view:

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