Mining Intelligence and News
Canada

Blackwater Project

Click for more information

Categories

Overview

Mine TypeOpen Pit
StageConstruction
Commodities
  • Gold
  • Silver
Mining Method
  • Truck & Shovel / Loader
Production Start... Lock
Mine Life... Lock
SnapshotBlackwater Mine is an open-pit gold and silver mine with the potential to develop into one of the largest gold mines in Canada.

Open pit operations will commence 15-18 months prior to mill start-up and are anticipated to run for 17 years. The process plant will be constructed in four distinct phases, as outlined below:
• Phase 1 (6Mtpa) operating for years 1 to 5
• Phase 2 (12Mtpa) operating for years 5 to 10
• Phase 3 (20Mtpa) operating for years 10 to 17
• Phase 4 (20Mtpa) operating for years 17 to 22

At the end of March 2024, the Sedgman EPC contract work on the processing plant was approximately 84% complete overall.

In Q2 2024, Artemis Gold expect to complete the construction and commissioning of the initial phase of the mining fleet, advance the tailings storage facility main dam wall, and move to the completion of the construction activity in the processing facility. At the end of Q1 2024, Artemis Gold remain on track for first gold pour in H2 2024.

Owners

SourceSource
CompanyInterestOwnership
Artemis Gold Inc. 100 % Indirect
Artemis, through its wholly-owned subsidiary, BW Gold Ltd., holds a 100% interest in the Blackwater Gold Project.

Contractors

Lock

- subscription is required.

Deposit type

  • Epithermal
  • Volcanic hosted
  • Vein / narrow vein

Summary:

The Blackwater deposit is considered an example of a volcanic-hosted, epithermal-style gold-silver deposit.

Pervasive stockwork veined and disseminated sulphide mineralization at Blackwater is hosted within felsic to intermediate volcanic rocks that have undergone extensive silicification and hydrofracturing.

The geological setting, style of gold-silver mineralization, and associated alteration assemblage for the Blackwater deposit share the characteristics of both low and intermediate sulphidation epithermal deposit types, according to the classification system of Sillitoe and Hedenquist (2003). Gold-silver mineralization is associated with a variable assemblage of pyrite-sphalerite-marcasite-pyrrhotite ± chalcopyrite ± galena ± arsenopyrite (± stibnite ± tetrahedrite ± bismuthite). Sulphide and gangue mineralogy are reasonably characteristic of an intermediat sulphidation regime as defined by Sillitoe and Hedenquist (2003). However, the massive fine-grained silicification present at Blackwater is more typical of high-sulphidation deposits and minor carbonate gangue of a low-sulphidation environment.

Core drilling has defined a zone of continuous gold mineralization that extends at least 1,300 m along its longest dimension east-west and at least 950 m north–south. The vertical thickness of the zone ranges up to 600 m, remaining open at depth in the southwestern part of the deposit, as well as to the northwest and west. The centre of the deposit has an average thickness of 350 m and, where open, a vertical extension of up to 600 m. The mineralized zone plunges shallowly to the north and northwest with inferred steep, north-plunging higher-grade mineralized shoots, measuring tens of metres thick, likely influenced by near-vertical structural intersections.

Mineralized rocks within the main Blackwater resource area can be broadly divided into a thick succession of felsic to intermediate pyroclastic and volcaniclastic rocks, volcanic flows and breccias, and related volcanic and lithic-derived sedimentary units (fine to coarse epiclastic rocks). Whole-rock analysis indicates that these units range from rhyolite to dacite to andesite in composition. Detailed age relationships between the mineralized host rocks at Blackwater are not entirely understood, but the vertical succession and locally observed progressive interbedding of these units suggest the andesite to be oldest, followed by the felsic tuffs and subsequently the felsic volcaniclastic rocks.

Gold-silver mineralization is associated with a variable assemblage of pyrite–sphalerite– marcasite–pyrrhotite ± chalcopyrite ± galena ± arsenopyrite (± stibnite ± tetrahedrite ± bismuthite).

Sulphide mineralization at Blackwater can be divided into the following types:

- Disseminated:
- As pinhead to coarse blebby sulphide grains and aggregates typically ranging from 1% to 5% total volume of the rock, but locally exceeding this volume. Disseminations may be uniform or irregular, with sulphides displaying an anhedral to euhedral crystal form;
- Disseminations of a dark-grey, very fine grained sulphide material (DBS) is common at Blackwater and may form as fine disseminations to coarse clusters, as thicker coatings to fractures, or as an irregular network of “dendritic” micro cracks within the rock mass;

- Porosity infill:
- Sulphides that fill, rim, or replace devitrified pyroclasts, tephra, and juvenile pumiceous material. Sulphides also commonly form parallel to compositional layering and laminations within felsic pyroclastic flows and laminated tuff units. Mineralized amygdules and altered feldspars are also observed in the andesite flow units;

- Vein:
- Polymetallic, anhedral to euhedral sulphide assemblages in sub-millimetre to centimetre- scale polymetallic veinlets–veins of quartz–sericite–chlorite–clay (illite) ± (iron) carbonate ± tourmaline ± vivianite;
- Hydrothermal brecciation and related silicification – centimetre- to metre-scale zones of hydrothermal brecciation, alteration, and elevated sulphide content. These breccia zones are typically healed with silica- sericite-sulphide cement and cut by a micro stockwork of vitric quartz ± sulphide veinlets;
- Structure-related (late?) – sulphides crushed to comminuted in brittle fault breccia and gouge.

Hydrothermal alteration (and possibly contact metamorphism) has produced several superimposed alteration assemblages, including pervasive silica–sericite–clay (illite) ± biotite alteration and veinlet/fracture-controlled silica–sericite–chlorite–clay ± iron carbonate ± tourmaline. An early (?) biotite–silica–albite ± chlorite/actinolite hornfelsing event may have been significant, although mineralization in these rocks appears to be lower than in units without evident hornfelsing. Visible native gold has been noted in some drillholes.

Secondary quartz occurs in several modes:
- Pervasive, amorphous to translucent silicification with associated illite ± sericite. Commonly holes display intense silicification of felsic units, epiclastics, and more intermediate volcaniclastic rocks with biotite alteration of the matrix (hornfels);
- Cryptocrystalline silica replacements in felsic ash-tuff layering;
- Silica cement/matrix to local hydrothermal brecciation;
- Sub-millimetre vitric quartz veinlets in zones of intense silicification; commonly as a micro-stockwork.

Given the lack of outcrop, geological interpretation has been based primarily on drill information plotted on section and plan views.

Reserves

Lock

- subscription is required.

Mining Methods

Lock

- subscription is required.

Comminution

Crushers and Mills

Lock

- subscription is required.

Processing

Lock

- subscription is required.

Production

CommodityUnitsAvg. AnnualLOM
Gold koz 3397,453
Silver koz 40,398
All production numbers are expressed as metal in doré.

Operational metrics

Metrics
Daily milling rate  ....  Subscribe
Daily milling capacity  ....  Subscribe
Hourly processing rate  ....  Subscribe
Annual milling capacity  ....  Subscribe
Stripping / waste ratio  ....  Subscribe
Waste tonnes, LOM  ....  Subscribe
Ore tonnes mined, LOM  ....  Subscribe
Total tonnes mined, LOM  ....  Subscribe
Tonnes milled, LOM  ....  Subscribe
* According to 2021 study.

Production Costs

CommodityAverage
Total cash costs (sold) Gold  ....  Subscribe
All-in sustaining costs (sold) Gold  ....  Subscribe
Assumed price Silver  ....  Subscribe
Assumed price Gold  ....  Subscribe
* According to 2021 study / presentation.
** Net of By-Product.

Operating Costs

Currency2021
OP mining costs ($/t mined) CAD  ....  Subscribe
OP mining costs ($/t milled) CAD  ....  Subscribe
Processing costs ($/t milled) CAD  ....  Subscribe
G&A ($/t milled) CAD  ....  Subscribe
Total operating costs ($/t milled) CAD  ....  Subscribe
* According to 2021 study.

Project Costs

MetricsUnitsLOM Total
Initial CapEx $M CAD  ......  Subscribe
Expansion CapEx $M CAD  ......  Subscribe
Sustaining CapEx $M CAD  ......  Subscribe
Closure costs $M CAD  ......  Subscribe
Total CapEx $M CAD  ......  Subscribe
OP OpEx $M CAD  ......  Subscribe
Processing OpEx $M CAD 2,782
Total OpEx $M CAD  ......  Subscribe
Total Taxes $M CAD  ......  Subscribe
Net revenue (LOM) $M CAD  ......  Subscribe
Pre-tax Cash Flow (LOM) $M CAD  ......  Subscribe
After-tax Cash Flow (LOM) $M CAD  ......  Subscribe
Pre-tax NPV @ 5% $M CAD  ......  Subscribe
After-tax NPV @ 5% $M CAD  ......  Subscribe
Pre-tax IRR, %  ......  Subscribe
After-tax IRR, %  ......  Subscribe
Pre-tax payback period, years  ......  Subscribe
After-tax payback period, years  ......  Subscribe

Heavy Mobile Equipment

Lock

- subscription is required.

Personnel

Mine Management

Job TitleNameProfileRef. Date
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Sep 10, 2021
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Sep 10, 2021
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Dec 16, 2023
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Dec 16, 2023
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Dec 15, 2023
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Apr 25, 2024
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Jul 23, 2024
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Jul 19, 2024
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Dec 15, 2023
....................... Subscription required ....................... Subscription required Subscription required Dec 15, 2023

Total WorkforceYear
...... Subscription required 2021

Aerial view:

Lock

- subscription is required.