Overview
| Stage | Production |
| Mine Type | Open Pit / Underground |
| Commodities |
|
| Mining Method |
- Truck & Shovel / Loader
- Mechanized Cut & Fill
- Longhole stoping
|
| Processing |
- Gravity separation
- Concentrate leach
- Agitated tank leaching
- Carbon in pulp (CIP)
- Solvent Extraction & Electrowinning
- Cyanide (reagent)
|
Porcupine, consists of the Hollinger open pit and Hoyle pond underground operations, located in the city of Timmins, Ontario, as well as the Borden underground operation, located near the town of Chapleau, Ontario. |
Source:
p. 76
Deposit Type
- Breccia pipe / Stockwork
- Vein / narrow vein
Summary:
The Porcupine mines are situated in the Porcupine Camp in Archean rocks of the western Abitibi Greenstone belt in the Canadian Shield. These consist of ultramafic and mafic volcanic rocks of the Keewatin subgroup overlain by sedimentary rocks of the Timiskaming group. The lands lie adjacent and to the north of the regionally significant Porcupine Destor Fault. Gold mineralization is found in a number of different structural settings and consists of continuous quartz carbonate veins, quartz tourmaline veins, quartz stockworks and gold associated with disseminated sulphides.
Mining Methods
- Truck & Shovel / Loader
- Mechanized Cut & Fill
- Longhole stoping
Summary:
Currently, approximately 60% of the gold comes from the Hoyle Pond underground mine, where mechanized cut and fill and longhole mining methods are used to extract the ore, and the remaining ore comes from the Hollinger Open Pit mine. The Dome Underground mine ceased operations in 2017.
Processing Technologies
- Gravity separation
- Concentrate leach
- Agitated tank leaching
- Carbon in pulp (CIP)
- Solvent Extraction & Electrowinning
- Cyanide (reagent)
Source:
Summary:
Gold is recovered using a combination of gravity concentration and cyanidation techniques. The circuit consists of primary, secondary and tertiary crushing, rod/ball mill grinding, gravity concentration, cyanide leaching, carbon-in-pulp gold recovery, stripping, electro winning and refining.
Recoveries & Grades:
| Commodity | Parameter | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 |
|
Gold
|
Recovery Rate, %
| ......  | ...... | ...... | ...... | ...... | ...... | ...... |
|
Gold
|
Head Grade, g/t
| 2.36 | 2.81 | 2.64 | 2.37 | 2.45 | 2.28 | 2.12 |
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Production:
| Commodity | Units | 2019 | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 |
|
Gold
|
koz
| ...... | ...... | 272 | 277 | 274 | 300 | 292 | 263 |
All production numbers are expressed as metal in doré.
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Operational Metrics:
| Metrics | 2018 | 2017 | 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 |
|
Tonnes milled
| ...... | ...... | 3,491 kt | 4,015,000 t | 4,166,800 t | 4,231,700 t | 4,162,400 t |
|
Daily milling capacity
| ...... | ...... | 12,000 t | | | | |
|
Daily milling rate
| ...... | ...... | | 11,000 t | 11,420 t | 11,590 t | 11,560 t |
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Reserves at December 31, 2019:
| Category | OreType | Tonnage | Commodity | Grade | Contained Metal |
|
Proven
|
In-Situ (OP)
|
11,900 kt
|
Gold
|
1.5 g/t
|
570 koz
|
|
Proven
|
In-Situ (UG)
|
600 kt
|
Gold
|
10.53 g/t
|
200 koz
|
|
Proven
|
Total
|
12,500 kt
|
Gold
|
1.92 g/t
|
770 koz
|
|
Probable
|
In-Situ (OP)
|
32,700 kt
|
Gold
|
1.04 g/t
|
1,100 koz
|
|
Probable
|
In-Situ (UG)
|
4,300 kt
|
Gold
|
6.89 g/t
|
950 koz
|
|
Probable
|
Total
|
37,000 kt
|
Gold
|
1.72 g/t
|
2,050 koz
|
|
Proven & Probable
|
In-Situ (OP)
|
44,600 kt
|
Gold
|
1.16 g/t
|
1,670 koz
|
|
Proven & Probable
|
In-Situ (UG)
|
4,900 kt
|
Gold
|
7.33 g/t
|
1,150 koz
|
|
Proven & Probable
|
Total
|
49,500 kt
|
Gold
|
1.77 g/t
|
2,820 koz
|
|
Measured
|
In-Situ (OP)
|
2,700 kt
|
Gold
|
1.17 g/t
|
100 koz
|
|
Measured
|
In-Situ (UG)
|
100 kt
|
Gold
|
6.28 g/t
|
20 koz
|
|
Measured
|
Total
|
2,800 kt
|
Gold
|
1.33 g/t
|
120 koz
|
|
Indicated
|
In-Situ (OP)
|
248,400 kt
|
Gold
|
0.89 g/t
|
7,130 koz
|
|
Indicated
|
In-Situ (UG)
|
700 kt
|
Gold
|
4.34 g/t
|
110 koz
|
|
Indicated
|
Total
|
249,100 kt
|
Gold
|
0.9 g/t
|
7,240 koz
|
|
Measured & Indicated
|
In-Situ (OP)
|
251,100 kt
|
Gold
|
0.9 g/t
|
7,230 koz
|
|
Measured & Indicated
|
In-Situ (UG)
|
800 kt
|
Gold
|
4.58 g/t
|
130 koz
|
|
Measured & Indicated
|
Total
|
251,900 kt
|
Gold
|
0.91 g/t
|
7,360 koz
|
|
Inferred
|
In-Situ (OP)
|
108,200 kt
|
Gold
|
0.7 g/t
|
2,430 koz
|
|
Inferred
|
In-Situ (UG)
|
1000 kt
|
Gold
|
5.78 g/t
|
180 koz
|
|
Inferred
|
Total
|
109,200 kt
|
Gold
|
0.74 g/t
|
2,610 koz
|
Heavy Mobile Equipment as of December 31, 2010:
| HME Type | Model | Quantity |
|
Backhoe & Rock Breaker
|
|
1
|
|
Dozer
|
|
2
|
|
Excavator
|
|
2
|
|
Grader
|
|
2
|
|
Loader
|
|
3
|
|
Shovel
|
|
1
|
|
Truck (haul)
|
.......................
|
12
|
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