Drill results suggest that the Colomac gold mine in the Northwest Territories may have potential to continue as an underground operation once production at the open pit ceases this autumn.
Various exploration programs by owner and operator Royal Oak Mines (ryo-t) have revealed that the potential for underground reserves is excellent.
Earlier attempts to identify additional open-pit mineralization to feed the 10,000-tonne-per-day mill had proved unsuccessful.
The company was able to identify deeper mineralized zones when it combined the results of its latest drill program with those of a program by former owner Neptune Resources.
Results from Royal Oak’s program, which was situated in the Indin Lake area near Colomac, include: 132 ft. of 0.35 oz. gold per ton; 33 ft. of 0.158 oz.; 20 ft. of 0.22 oz.; 19.4 ft. of 0.19 oz.; 12 ft. of 0.33 oz.; 19.9 ft. of 0.26 oz.; 36.1 ft. of 0.18 oz.; 32.8 ft. of 0.16 oz.; 78.7 ft. of 0.25 oz.; and 108 ft. of 0.22 oz. Most of the intercepts were recovered from depths of between 100 and 300 ft., though some were recovered from depths of 1,400 ft.
The company has stated it will be unable to develop an underground resource in time to avert the shutdown of the open pit. However, it is assessing its options and could enlist a partner to investigate the property’s underground potential.
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