The Macassa mine near Kirkland Lake, Ont., will see gold production increase by about 18% this year because of higher than expected ore grades and mill throughput. A spokesman for owner LAC Minerals said the company has been “pleasantly surprised” by improved gold grades it has been encountering between the 4,700- ft. and 6,600-ft. levels.
“The grade is getting better and tonnage milled is also going up as we lift more ore,” said LAC spokesman John Pearson. “Macassa is certainly going to have a record year,” he added.
The improvement has resulted in a revised 1990 production forecast of 100,000 oz., up from 85,000 oz. anticipated earlier.
Macassa’s proven and probable ore reserves were last reported at 1.51 million tons grading 0.51 oz. gold per ton, but that figure will likely be updated at year-end to incorporate reserves outlined by exploration.
Last year the mine produced 82,540 oz. of gold from ore grading 0.50 oz. For the first six months of 1990, the mine produced 53,000 oz. from ore averaging 0.52 oz. Mill throughput is currently 1,250 tons per day, including about 750 tons from the old Lakeshore mine tailings.
Pearson said production costs have also been greatly reduced to US$251 per oz., down from an average of US$304 per oz. during 1989. The Macassa mine has been continuously producing gold since 1933.
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